Simultaneous Real-Color Time-Domain Survey of the Coma Field with the Multi-channel Photometric Survey Telescope (Mephisto)
Abstract
We present the results from a high-cadence, multi-channel time-domain survey targeting the Coma galaxy cluster, utilizing the newly commissioned 1.6-m Multi-channel Photometric Survey Telescope (Mephisto). Mephisto's pioneering mosaic focal-plane design enables strictly simultaneous imaging in three distinct optical bands ($u/v, g/r, i/z$). This unique capability allows for the extraction of true, instantaneous spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of fast-evolving transients. Our survey continuously monitors a 20-square-degree footprint centered on the Coma cluster. By strategically targeting this massive local structure, we exploit cosmic anisotropy to significantly amplify the volumetric discovery rate of stellar explosions. During the initial six-month pilot operation, we successfully detected and tracked nine new supernovae (SNe). Remarkably, our high-cadence, multi-band strategy allowed us to capture ultra-early rising light curves and pre-discovery signals (e.g., SN 2026dyr) hours to days prior to formal discovery alerts. These instantaneous early-phase colors allow us to reconstruct intrinsic SEDs without temporal interpolation, providing reliable constraints on the physical parameters of early supernova (SN) evolution. Furthermore, our observed supernova yield shows good agreement with theoretical forecasts based on local stellar mass and star-formation rate overdensities. These pilot results validate the efficiency of the Mephisto Coma survey, demonstrating its objective capability to systematically explore the local transient population and provide rapid optical localizations for future multi-messenger events.
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BibTeX
@misc{pan2026simultaneous,
title = {{Simultaneous Real-Color Time-Domain Survey of the Coma Field with the Multi-channel Photometric Survey Telescope (Mephisto)}},
author = {Yu Pan and Yuan-Pei Yang and Ye-Hao Cheng and Brajesh Kumar and Jie-Wei Zhao and Yongzhi Cai and Xinlei Chen and Jian Cui and Guowang Du and Yuan Fang and Helong Guo and Panpan Huang and Kaushik Chatterjee and Ziwei Li and Jianhui Lian and Chenxu Liu and Xiangkun Liu and Chenxi Shang and Tao Wang and Chunsheng Xiao and Jinghua Zhang and Kong-Jun Zhang and Shiyan Zhong and Zihao Zhou and Dan Zhu and Xufeng Zhu and Xingzhu Zou and Xiaowei Liu},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.39089},
eprint = {2610.39089},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.39089},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Simultaneous Real-Color Time-Domain Survey of the Coma Field with the Multi-channel Photometric Survey Telescope (Mephisto)
AU - Yu Pan
AU - Yuan-Pei Yang
AU - Ye-Hao Cheng
AU - Brajesh Kumar
AU - Jie-Wei Zhao
AU - Yongzhi Cai
AU - Xinlei Chen
AU - Jian Cui
AU - Guowang Du
AU - Yuan Fang
AU - Helong Guo
AU - Panpan Huang
AU - Kaushik Chatterjee
AU - Ziwei Li
AU - Jianhui Lian
AU - Chenxu Liu
AU - Xiangkun Liu
AU - Chenxi Shang
AU - Tao Wang
AU - Chunsheng Xiao
AU - Jinghua Zhang
AU - Kong-Jun Zhang
AU - Shiyan Zhong
AU - Zihao Zhou
AU - Dan Zhu
AU - Xufeng Zhu
AU - Xingzhu Zou
AU - Xiaowei Liu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.39089
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.39089
AB - We present the results from a high-cadence, multi-channel time-domain survey targeting the Coma galaxy cluster, utilizing the newly commissioned 1.6-m Multi-channel Photometric Survey Telescope (Mephisto). Mephisto's pioneering mosaic focal-plane design enables strictly simultaneous imaging in three distinct optical bands ($u/v, g/r, i/z$). This unique capability allows for the extraction of true, instantaneous spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of fast-evolving transients. Our survey continuously monitors a 20-square-degree footprint centered on the Coma cluster. By strategically targeting this massive local structure, we exploit cosmic anisotropy to significantly amplify the volumetric discovery rate of stellar explosions. During the initial six-month pilot operation, we successfully detected and tracked nine new supernovae (SNe). Remarkably, our high-cadence, multi-band strategy allowed us to capture ultra-early rising light curves and pre-discovery signals (e.g., SN 2026dyr) hours to days prior to formal discovery alerts. These instantaneous early-phase colors allow us to reconstruct intrinsic SEDs without temporal interpolation, providing reliable constraints on the physical parameters of early supernova (SN) evolution. Furthermore, our observed supernova yield shows good agreement with theoretical forecasts based on local stellar mass and star-formation rate overdensities. These pilot results validate the efficiency of the Mephisto Coma survey, demonstrating its objective capability to systematically explore the local transient population and provide rapid optical localizations for future multi-messenger events.
ER -