Optimizing neural network techniques in classifying Fermi-LAT gamma-ray sources

Abstract

ABSTRACT Machine learning is an automatic technique that is revolutionizing scientific research, with innovative applications and wide use in astrophysics. The aim of this study was to develop an optimized version of an Artificial Neural Network machine learning method for classifying blazar candidates of uncertain type detected by the Fermi Large Area Telescope γ-ray instrument. The final result of this study increased the classification performance by about 80 ${{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ with respect to previous method, leaving only 15 unclassified blazars out of 573 blazar candidates of uncertain type listed in the LAT 4-year Source Catalog.