Effects of the explosion asymmetry and viewing angle on the Type Ia supernova colour and luminosity calibration

Phenomenological relations exist between the peak luminosity and other observables of type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) that allow one to standardize their peak luminosities. However, several issues are yet to be clarified: SNe Ia show colour variations after the standardization. Also, individual SNe Ia can show residuals in their standardized peak absolute magnitude at the level of ∼0.15 mag. In this paper, we explore how the colour and luminosity residual are related to the wavelength shift of nebular emission lines observed at ≳150 d after the maximum light. A sample of 11 SNe Ia which likely suffer from little host extinction indicates a correlation (3.3σ) between the peak B-V colour and the late-time emission-line shift. Furthermore, a nearly identical relation applies for a larger sample in which only three SNe with B-V≳ 0.2 mag are excluded. Following the interpretation that the late-time emission-line shift is a tracer of the viewing direction from which an off-centre explosion is observed, we suggest that the viewing direction is a dominant factor controlling the SN colour and that a large part of the colour variations is intrinsic, rather than due to the host extinction. We also investigate a relation between the peak luminosity residuals and the wavelength shift in nebular emission lines in a sample of 20 SNe. We thereby found a hint of a correlation (at ∼1.6σ level). The confirmation of this will require a future sample of SNe with more accurate distance estimates. Radiation transfer simulations for a toy explosion model where different viewing angles cause the late-time emission-line shift are presented, predicting a strong correlation between the colour and shift, and a weaker one for the luminosity residual. Partially based on observations obtained at the Gemini Observatory, Cerro Pachon, Chile (Gemini Programs GS-2008B-Q-8, GS-2008B-Q-32, GS-2008B-Q-56 and GS-2009B-Q-40).