A

Euclid Quick Data Release (Q1). From simulations to sky: Advancing machine-learning lens detection with real Euclid data

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe)

Abstract

In the era of large-scale surveys like Euclid, machine learning has become an essential tool for identifying rare yet scientifically valuable objects, such as strong gravitational lenses. However, supervised machine-learning approaches require large quantities of labelled examples to train on, and the limited number of known strong lenses has lead to a reliance on simulations for training. A well-known challenge is that machine-learning models trained on one data domain often underperform when applied to a different domain: in the context of lens finding, this means that strong performance on simulated lenses does not necessarily translate into equally good performance on real observations. In Euclid's Quick Data Release 1 (Q1), covering 63 deg2, 500 strong lens candidates were discovered through a synergy of machine learning, citizen science, and expert visual inspection. These discoveries now allow us to quantify this performance gap and investigate the impact of training on real data. We find that a network trained only on simulations recovers up to 92% of simulated lenses with 100% purity, but only achieves 50% completeness with 24% purity on real Euclid data. By augmenting training data with real Euclid lenses and non-lenses, completeness improves by 25-30% in terms of the expected yield of discoverable lenses in Euclid DR1 and the full Euclid Wide Survey. Roughly 20% of this improvement comes from the inclusion of real lenses in the training data, while 5-10% comes from exposure to a more diverse set of non-lenses and false-positives from Q1. We show that the most effective lens-finding strategy for real-world performance combines the diversity of simulations with the fidelity of real lenses. This hybrid approach establishes a clear methodology for maximising lens discoveries in future data releases from Euclid, and will likely also be applicable to other surveys such as LSST.

Authors 48

  1. University of Portsmouth

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3FX, UK

  2. FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland

    Affiliation as printed

    University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwestern Switzerland, School of Computer Science, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland

  3. Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics · University of Bologna

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi" - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, via Piero Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy

    INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

  4. University of Oxford

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Oxford University, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH, UK

  5. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université · Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris · Sorbonne Université

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France

    Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, UMR 7095, CNRS, and Sorbonne Université, 98 bis boulevard Arago, 75014 Paris, France

  6. European Space Astronomy Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain

  7. Heidelberg University

    Affiliation as printed

    Institut für Theoretische Physik, University of Heidelberg, Philosophenweg 16, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany

  8. Brera Astronomical Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via Brera 28, 20122 Milano, Italy

  9. Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

  10. Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati · Trieste Astronomical Observatory · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Trieste · Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe

    Affiliation as printed

    IFPU, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe, via Beirut 2, 34151 Trieste, Italy

    INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy

    INFN, Sezione di Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste TS, Italy

    SISSA, International School for Advanced Studies, Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste TS, Italy

  11. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bologna · Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics · University of Bologna

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Bologna, Via Gobetti 93/2, 40129 Bologna, Italy

    INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

    INFN-Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy

  12. Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Via dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy

  13. Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

  14. Trieste Astronomical Observatory · Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy

    IFPU, Institute for Fundamental Physics of the Universe, via Beirut 2, 34151 Trieste, Italy

  15. Brera Astronomical Observatory · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova · University of Genoa

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146, Genova, Italy

    INFN-Sezione di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146, Genova, Italy

    INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera, Via Brera 28, 20122 Milano, Italy

  16. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Torino · Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino · University of Turin · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy

    INFN-Sezione di Torino, Via P. Giuria 1, 10125 Torino, Italy

    INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese

  17. Port d'Informació Científica · Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas

    Affiliation as printed

    Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas

    Port d'Informació Científica, Campus UAB, C. Albareda s/n, 08193 Bellaterra

  18. Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

  19. University of Bologna

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Augusto Righi" - Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy

  20. Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias

    Affiliation as printed

    Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

  21. Royal Observatory · University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK

  22. University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Astronomy, University of Geneva, ch. d'Ecogia 16, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland

  23. European Space Astronomy Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain

  24. Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, via del Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 00100 Roma, Italy

  25. Astronomical Observatory of Rome · Agenzia Spaziale Italiana · Institut de Physique des 2 Infinis de Lyon · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, 00078 Monteporzio Catone, Italy

    Space Science Data Center, Italian Space Agency, via del Politecnico snc, 00133 Roma, Italy

    IP2I Lyon - Institut de Physique des 2 Infinis de Lyon (Campus LyonTech-la Doua Bâtiment Paul DIRAC 4 Rue Enrico Fermi 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex - France)

  26. Lyon 1 Université · Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Institut de Physique des 2 Infinis de Lyon

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS/IN2P3, IP2I Lyon, UMR 5822, Villeurbanne, F-69100, France

  27. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Bologna · Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

    INFN-Bologna, Via Irnerio 46, 40126 Bologna, Italy

  28. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

    Affiliation as printed

    University Observatory, LMU Faculty of Physics, Scheinerstr.~1, 81679 Munich, Germany

  29. Royal Observatory · University of Edinburgh

    Affiliation as printed

    Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK

  30. European Space Astronomy Centre

    Affiliation as printed

    FRACTAL S.L.N.E., calle Tulipán 2, Portal 13 1A, 28231, Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain

    ESAC/ESA, Camino Bajo del Castillo, s/n., Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, 28692 Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain

  31. Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Giessenbachstr. 1, 85748 Garching, Germany

  32. Lancaster University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK

  33. Affiliation as printed

    Felix Hormuth Engineering, Goethestr. 17, 69181 Leimen, Germany

  34. Technical University of Denmark

    Affiliation as printed

    Technical University of Denmark, Elektrovej 327, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

    Cosmic Dawn Center

  35. Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

    Affiliation as printed

    Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

  36. Goddard Space Flight Center

    Affiliation as printed

    NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA

  37. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université · Centre de physique des particules de Marseille · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS/IN2P3, CPPM, Marseille, France

  38. Jet Propulsion Laboratory · Institut de Physique des 2 Infinis de Lyon

    Affiliation as printed

    Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA

    IP2I Lyon - Institut de Physique des 2 Infinis de Lyon (Campus LyonTech-la Doua Bâtiment Paul DIRAC 4 Rue Enrico Fermi 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex - France)

  39. University of Geneva

    Affiliation as printed

    Université de Genève, Département de Physique Théorique and Centre for Astroparticle Physics, 24 quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland

  40. University of Helsinki · Helsinki Institute of Physics · Laboratoire d'Étude de l'Univers et des Phénomènes Extrêmes

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland

    Helsinki Institute of Physics, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland

    LUX - Laboratoire d’étude de l’Univers et des phénomènes eXtrèmes (Site de Meudon : 5, place Jules Janssen 92195 MEUDON. Site de Paris : 61, av. de l’Observatoire 75014 PARIS. - France)

  41. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d'Étude de l'Univers et des Phénomènes Extrêmes

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratoire d'etude de l'Univers et des phenomenes eXtremes, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 92190 Meudon, France

  42. Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Torino, Via Osservatorio 20, 10025 Pino Torinese

  43. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Centre de Calcul de l’Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules

    Affiliation as printed

    Centre de Calcul de l'IN2P3/CNRS, 21 avenue Pierre de Coubertin 69627 Villeurbanne Cedex, France

  44. University of Milan · Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Milano · National Institute for Astrophysics

    Affiliation as printed

    Dipartimento di Fisica "Aldo Pontremoli", Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy

    INAF-IASF Milano, Via Alfonso Corti 12, 20133 Milano, Italy

    INFN-Sezione di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy

  45. Trieste Astronomical Observatory

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste, Via G. B. Tiepolo 11, 34143 Trieste, Italy

  46. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université

    Affiliation as printed

    Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France

  47. Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio · Université Paris Diderot · Centre Pierre Binétruy · National Institute for Astrophysics · University of California, Berkeley

    Affiliation as printed

    INAF-Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 93/3, 40129 Bologna, Italy

    APC (UMR_7164) - AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC - UMR 7164, Université Paris Diderot, 10 rue Alice Domon et Léonie Duquet, case postale 7020, F-75205 Paris Cedex 13 - France)

    CPB - Centre Pierre Binétruy (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY - Berkeley, Physics Department 00366 LeConte Hall - United States)

  48. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules · Centre Pierre Binétruy · University of California, Berkeley

    Affiliation as printed

    Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Astroparticule et Cosmologie, 75013 Paris, France

    CNRS-UCB International Research Laboratory, Centre Pierre Binétruy, IRL2007, CPB-IN2P3, Berkeley, USA

Cited by 0 stored of 0

No patents citing this paper on Lens.org (checked 2026-10-11).

References 0