Infrared light curves of type Ia supernovae

Journal Article · 02 October 2003 · From Twilight to Highlight: The Physics of Supernovae

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/10828549_25 · OSTI ID:1407032

Phillips, M. M. ^[1]; Krisciunas, K. ^[2]; Suntzeff, N. B. ^[2]; Roth, M. ^[1]; Germany, L. ^[3]; Candia, P. ^[2]; Gonzalez, S. ^[1]; Hamuy, M. ^[4]; Freedman, W. L. ^[4]; Persson, S. E. ^[4]; Nugent, PE ^[5]; Aldering, G ^[5]; Conley, A ^[5]

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1. Carnegie Observatories, La Serena (Chile). Las Campanas Observatory
2. Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, La Serena (Chile)
3. European Southern Observatory, Santiago (Chile)
4. Observatories of the Carnegie Inst. of Washington, Pasadena (United States)
5. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

This article provides a progress report on a collaborative program at the Las Campanas and Cerro Tololo Observatories to observe the near-IR light curves of Type Ia supernovae. We discuss how the morphologies of the JHK light curves change as a function of the decline rate parameter Δm₁₅ (B). Evidence is presented which indicates that the absolute magnitudes in the H band have little or no dependence on the decline rate, suggesting that SNe Ia may be nearly perfect cosmological standard candles in the near-IR. A preliminary Hubble diagram in the H band is presented and compared with a similar diagram in V for the same objects. Finally, observations of two peculiar supernovae, 1999ac and 2001ay, are briefly discussed.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 1407032
• Journal Information: From Twilight to Highlight: The Physics of Supernovae, Related Information: ISBN 978-3-540-00483-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English