AstroInformatics+ An Ignite-Talks Session
• A New Approach to Periodicity Detection by Prof. Shay Zucker (Tel-Aviv University)
Abstract:
A New Approach to Periodicity Detection by Prof. Shay Zucker (Tel-Aviv University)
In Astronomy, periodicity is pervasive in many forms: from rotation of asteroids,
through the orbits of binary stars, to stellar orbits around the Galactic Center. Thus,
detecting periodicity in astronomical data, which are often sparse and unevenly
sampled, has always been a staple of astronomical research. Astronomers use an
arsenal of methods to perform the task, none of them is perfect, and most of them
rely on some arbitrary assumptions or parameters. The most popular ones are
usually inspired by Fourier theory and essentially search for sinusoidal periodicities.
This talk will present a novel approach to periodicity detection – the Phase Distance
Correlation periodogram (PDC) – which is nonparametric, model independent and
computationally elegant. PDC is an application of some very recent developments in
statistics, and it opens up new horizons in the field of periodicity detection. It can
easily be extended to detect periodicities of new and unknown types, in various
modalities of data, not necessarily in Astronomy.
The talk will introduce the basic ideas of PDC, highlight its novelty, and demonstrate
its advantages in some types of data.
• Cosmic sunsets and cosmic voids by Prof. Doron Chelouche (Haifa Center
for Theoretical Physics & Astrophysics)
• On the use of constraints in statistical analysis by Prof. Ori Davidov
(Department of Statistics)
• Geographical Roots of Cultural and Linguistic Traits by Dr. Assaf Sarid
(Department of Economics)
• Ontology-based decision-support systems to enhance patients’
wellbeing by Prof. Mor Peleg (Department of Information Systems)
• A Seven Nation Consortium Using Healthcare Registry Data to Study
Autism Spectrum Disorder by Prof. Stephen Levine (Department of
Community Mental Health)
• Data-driven research in information science by Prof. Daphne Raban
(School of Management, Faculty of Social Sciences)
• Reverse Engineering the Prices of Spot Instances by Prof. Orr Dunkelman
(Department of Computer Science)