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Issue A&A
Volume 405, Number 3, July III 2003
Page(s) 859 - 866
Section Extragalactic astronomy
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20030648



A&A 405, 859-866 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20030648

Massive galaxy clusters as gravitational telescopes for distant supernovae

C. Gunnarsson and A. Goobar

Department of Physics, Stockholm University, AlbaNova, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
(Received 21 November 2002 / Accepted 24 April 2003)

Abstract
We investigate the potential of using massive clusters as gravitational telescopes for searches and studies of supernovae of Type Ia and Type II in optical and near-infrared bands at central wavelengths in the interval 0.8-1.25  $\mu$m. Using high-redshift supernova rates derived from the measured star formation rate, we find the most interesting effects for the detection of core-collapse SNe in searches at limiting magnitudes $m_{\rm lim}\sim 25{-}26.5$ mag, where the total detection rate could be significantly enhanced and the number of detectable events is considerable even in a small field. For shallower searches, ~24 mag, a net gain factor of up to 3 in the discovery rate could be obtained, and yet a much larger factor for very high source redshifts. For programs such as the GOODS/ACS transient survey, the discovery rate of supernovae beyond $z\sim 2$ could be significantly increased if the observations were done in the direction of massive clusters. For extremely deep observations, $m_{\rm lim} > 27$ mag, or for very bright SNe (e.g. Type Ia) the competing effect of field reduction by lensing dominates, and fewer supernovae are likely to be discovered behind foreground clusters.


Key words: cosmology: gravitational lensing -- cosmology: distance scale -- galaxies: clusters: general -- stars: supernovae: general

Offprint request: C. Gunnarsson, cg@physto.se




© ESO 2003


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