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Main Authors: Inada, Adi, Sako, Masao, Acero-Cuellar, Tatiana, Bianco, Federica
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16844
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author Inada, Adi
Sako, Masao
Acero-Cuellar, Tatiana
Bianco, Federica
author_facet Inada, Adi
Sako, Masao
Acero-Cuellar, Tatiana
Bianco, Federica
contents We introduce a transformer-based neural network for the accurate classification of real and bogus transient detections in astronomical images. This network advances beyond the conventional convolutional neural network (CNN) methods, widely used in image processing tasks, by adopting an architecture better suited for detailed pixel-by-pixel comparison. The architecture enables efficient analysis of search and template images only, thus removing the necessity for computationally-expensive difference imaging, while maintaining high performance. Our primary evaluation was conducted using the autoScan dataset from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), where the network achieved a classification accuracy of 97.4% and diminishing performance utility for difference image as the size of the training set grew. Further experiments with DES data confirmed that the network can operate at a similar level even when the input images are not centered on the supernova candidate. These findings highlight the network's effectiveness in enhancing both accuracy and efficiency of supernova detection in large-scale astronomical surveys.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2508_16844
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Transformer-Based Neural Network for Transient Detection without Image Subtraction
Inada, Adi
Sako, Masao
Acero-Cuellar, Tatiana
Bianco, Federica
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
We introduce a transformer-based neural network for the accurate classification of real and bogus transient detections in astronomical images. This network advances beyond the conventional convolutional neural network (CNN) methods, widely used in image processing tasks, by adopting an architecture better suited for detailed pixel-by-pixel comparison. The architecture enables efficient analysis of search and template images only, thus removing the necessity for computationally-expensive difference imaging, while maintaining high performance. Our primary evaluation was conducted using the autoScan dataset from the Dark Energy Survey (DES), where the network achieved a classification accuracy of 97.4% and diminishing performance utility for difference image as the size of the training set grew. Further experiments with DES data confirmed that the network can operate at a similar level even when the input images are not centered on the supernova candidate. These findings highlight the network's effectiveness in enhancing both accuracy and efficiency of supernova detection in large-scale astronomical surveys.
title Transformer-Based Neural Network for Transient Detection without Image Subtraction
topic Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.16844