Measuring the Universe with Supernovae

Carnegie Institution Of Washington, Washington DC

Investigators

Abstract

AST-0306969 Hamuy This work will improve the calibration of distant supernova light curves, in order to provide greater accuracy in distance determinations leading to deviations from the Hubble relation. Such deviations have profound cosmological implications, but remain uncertain because of possible reddening by dust, and evolutionary effects. This project will involve large amounts of telescope time (roughly 300 nights per year) to observe supernovae at redshifts z < 0.07. Observing such nearby events will allow estimation of systematic effects, which may influence measurements of more distant, cosmologically relevant, supernovae. The end result will be important to firm up the evidence for dark energy in the universe, and will help lay the groundwork for determining its equation of state. ***