An Intensive Hubble Space Telescope Survey for z>1 Type Ia Supernovae by Targeting Galaxy Clusters
Abstract
We present a new survey strategy to discover and study high-redshift Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). By targeting massive galaxy clusters at 0.9 < z < 1.5, we obtain a twofold improvement in the efficiency of finding SNe compared to an HST field survey and a factor of 3 improvement in the total yield of SN detections in relatively dust-free red-sequence galaxies. In total, sixteen SNe were discovered at z>0.95, nine of which were in galaxy clusters. This strategy provides an SN sample that can be used to decouple the effects of host-galaxy extinction and intrinsic color in high-redshift SNe, thereby reducing one of the largest systematic uncertainties in SN cosmology.
Based on observations made with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and obtained from the data archive at the Space Telescope Institute. STScI is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under the NASA contract NAS 5-26555. The observations are associated with program 10496.- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-6256/138/5/1271
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0908.3928
- Bibcode:
- 2009AJ....138.1271D
- Keywords:
-
- cosmology: observations;
- supernovae: general;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 15 pages, 8 figures, accepted by AJ, see http://www.supernova.lbl.gov for additional information pertaining to the HST Cluster SN Survey