New measurements of the Lyman-$\alpha$ forest continuum and effective optical depth with LyCAN and DESI Y1 data

Understand

We present the Lyman-$\alpha$ Continuum Analysis Network (LyCAN), a Convolutional Neural Network that predicts the unabsorbed quasar continuum within the rest-frame wavelength range of $1040-1600$ Angstroms based on the red side of the Lyman-$\alpha$ emission line ($1216-1600$ Angstroms).

• We developed synthetic spectra based on a Gaussian Mixture Model representation of Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF) coefficients.
• These coefficients were derived from high-resolution, low-redshift ($z<0.2$) Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph quasar spectra.
• We supplemented this COS-based synthetic sample with an equal number of DESI Year 5 mock spectra.