Bibcode
Sánchez-Almeida, J.; Aguerri, J. A. L.; Muñoz-Tuñón, C.; de Vicente, A.
Bibliographical reference
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 714, Issue 1, pp. 487-504 (2010).
Advertised on:
5
2010
Journal
Citations
70
Refereed citations
60
Description
Using the k-means cluster analysis algorithm, we carry out an
unsupervised classification of all galaxy spectra in the seventh and
final Sloan Digital Sky Survey data release (SDSS/DR7). Except for the
shift to rest-frame wavelengths and the normalization to the g-band
flux, no manipulation is applied to the original spectra. The algorithm
guarantees that galaxies with similar spectra belong to the same class.
We find that 99% of the galaxies can be assigned to only 17 major
classes, with 11 additional minor classes including the remaining 1%.
The classification is not unique since many galaxies appear in between
classes; however, our rendering of the algorithm overcomes this weakness
with a tool to identify borderline galaxies. Each class is characterized
by a template spectrum, which is the average of all the spectra of the
galaxies in the class. These low-noise template spectra vary smoothly
and continuously along a sequence labeled from 0 to 27, from the reddest
class to the bluest class. Our Automatic Spectroscopic K-means-based
(ASK) classification separates galaxies in colors, with classes
characteristic of the red sequence, the blue cloud, as well as the green
valley. When red sequence galaxies and green valley galaxies present
emission lines, they are characteristic of active galactic nucleus
activity. Blue galaxy classes have emission lines corresponding to star
formation regions. We find the expected correlation between
spectroscopic class and Hubble type, but this relationship exhibits a
high intrinsic scatter. Several potential uses of the ASK classification
are identified and sketched, including fast determination of physical
properties by interpolation, classes as templates in redshift
determinations, and target selection in follow-up works (we find classes
of Seyfert galaxies, green valley galaxies, as well as a significant
number of outliers). The ASK classification is publicly accessible
through various Web sites.
Related projects
Starbursts in Galaxies GEFE
Starsbursts play a key role in the cosmic evolution of galaxies, and thus in the star formation (SF) history of the universe, the production of metals, and the feedback coupling galaxies with the cosmic web. Extreme SF conditions prevail early on during the formation of the first stars and galaxies, therefore, the starburst phenomenon constitutes a
Casiana
Muñoz Tuñón