The Volumetric Rate of Calcium-rich Transients in the Local Universe
Abstract
We present a measurement of the volumetric rate of “calcium-rich” optical transients in the local universe, using a sample of three events from the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF). This measurement builds on a detailed study of the PTF transient detection efficiencies and uses a Monte Carlo simulation of the PTF survey. We measure the volumetric rate of calcium-rich transients to be higher than previous estimates: {1.21}-0.39+1.13 × {10}-5 events yr-1 Mpc-3. This is equivalent to 33%-94% of the local volumetric Type Ia supernova rate. This calcium-rich transient rate is sufficient to reproduce the observed calcium abundances in galaxy clusters, assuming an asymptotic calcium yield per calcium-rich event of ∼0.05 {M}⊙ . We also study the PTF detection efficiency of these transients as a function of position within their candidate host galaxies. We confirm as a real physical effect previous results that suggest that calcium-rich transients prefer large physical offsets from their host galaxies.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 2018
- DOI:
- 10.3847/1538-4357/aabc0b
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1804.03103
- Bibcode:
- 2018ApJ...858...50F
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: clusters: general;
- galaxies: clusters: intracluster medium;
- supernovae: general;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- Accepted for publication in ApJ. 9 pages, 5 figures