Statistical Properties and Synthetic Spectra of Type IA Supernovae

First, the statistical properties of supernovae are examined. Specifically the absolute magnitude and the corresponding dispersion of type Ia supernovae at maximum light. It is found that the removal of peculiar and extinguished supernovae leaves a sample with a dispersion of less than 0.3 magnitudes. Considering observational error, this implies the intrinsic dispersion of type Ia supernovae is less than 0.2 mag. Using the supernova 1937C to calibrate these standard candles, the Hubble constant is determined to be 51 +/- 12km s^ {-1} Mpc^{-1}. . Second, a non-LTE model is used to calculate synthetic spectra of type Ia supernovae. The theory behind the model is given, approximations are discussed and an improvement to the model, line blocking, is described. Emergent spectra are compared to the observed ultra violet and visual spectrum of the type Ia supernova 1992A. Finally NLTE effects on the occupation numbers of O I are examined.