LASR-Guided Stellar Photometric Variability Subtraction: The Linear Algorithm For Significance Reduction

Abstract

We develop a technique for removing stellar variability in the light curves of $\delta$-Scuti and similar stars. Our technique, which we name the Linear Algorithm for Significance Reduction (LASR), subtracts oscillations from a time series by minimizing their statistical significance in frequency space. We demonstrate that LASR can subtract variable signals of near-arbitrary complexity and can robustly handle close frequency pairs and overtone frequencies. We demonstrate that our algorithm performs an equivalent fit as prewhitening to the straightforward variable signal of KIC 9700322. We also show that LASR provides a better fit to seismic activity than prewhitening in the case of the complex $\delta$-Scuti KOI-976.

arXiv comment9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Pseudocode and github link to code included in manuscript

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• Efficient and precise transit light curves for rapidly-rotating, oblate stars