Autoencoder-based framework for anomaly detection in stellar spectra: application to the MaNGA Stellar Library

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Author: Suzuki, Akihiro
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Suzuki, Akihiro
author_facet Suzuki, Akihiro
contents A machine-learning-based method is developed to identify objects with unusual stellar spectra. The method employs an autoencoder, a neural network trained to compress spectral data into a low-dimensional representation and subsequently reconstruct it. Spectra that deviate significantly from the dominant patterns in the training dataset are identified using the reconstruction error as an anomaly score. The models are applied to selected datasets from the MaNGA Stellar Library, an empirical library of stellar spectra. Several spectra are flagged as anomalous: an object with likely instrumental and/or reduction issues, two carbon stars, and an oxygen-rich thermally pulsating asymptotic giant branch star. The sources of the large reconstruction errors are examined, and the effectiveness and limitations of autoencoder-based approaches for detecting anomalous stellar spectra are discussed.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_03734
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Autoencoder-based framework for anomaly detection in stellar spectra: application to the MaNGA Stellar Library
Suzuki, Akihiro
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
A machine-learning-based method is developed to identify objects with unusual stellar spectra. The method employs an autoencoder, a neural network trained to compress spectral data into a low-dimensional representation and subsequently reconstruct it. Spectra that deviate significantly from the dominant patterns in the training dataset are identified using the reconstruction error as an anomaly score. The models are applied to selected datasets from the MaNGA Stellar Library, an empirical library of stellar spectra. Several spectra are flagged as anomalous: an object with likely instrumental and/or reduction issues, two carbon stars, and an oxygen-rich thermally pulsating asymptotic giant branch star. The sources of the large reconstruction errors are examined, and the effectiveness and limitations of autoencoder-based approaches for detecting anomalous stellar spectra are discussed.
title Autoencoder-based framework for anomaly detection in stellar spectra: application to the MaNGA Stellar Library
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.03734