Characterizing the standardization properties of type ia supernovae in the <i>z</i> band with hierarchical Bayesian modelling

ABSTRACT Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are standardizable candles: their peak magnitudes can be corrected for correlations between light-curve properties and their luminosities to precisely estimate distances. Understanding SN Ia standardization across wavelength improves methods for correcting SN Ia magnitudes. Using 150 SNe Ia from the Foundation Supernova Survey and Young Supernova Experiment, we present the first study focusing on SN Ia standardization properties in the z band. Straddling the optical and near-infrared, SN Ia light in the z band is less sensitive to dust extinction and can be collected alongside the optical on CCDs. Pre-standardization, SNe Ia exhibit less residual scatter in z-band peak magnitudes than in the g and r bands. SNe Ia peak z-band magnitudes still exhibit a significant dependence on light-curve shape. Post-standardization, the z-band Hubble diagram has a total scatter of root mean square $=0.195$ mag. We infer a z-band mass step of $\gamma _{z} = -0.105 \pm 0.031$ mag, which is consistent within $1\sigma$ of that estimated from $gri$ data, assuming $R_{V} = 2.61$. When assuming different $R_{V}$ values for high and low mass host galaxies, the z band and optical mass steps remain consistent within $1\sigma$. Based on current statistical precision, these results suggest dust reddening cannot fully explain the mass step. SNe Ia in the z band exhibit complementary standardizability properties to the optical that can improve distance estimates. Understanding these properties is important for the upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory and Nancy G. Roman Space Telescope, which will probe the rest-frame z band to redshifts 0.1 and 1.8.

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Journal
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Published
2025-06-29
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staf1056
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
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article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.15

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article

Characterizing the standardization properties of type ia supernovae in the z band with hierarchical Bayesian modelling

Qinan Wang, R. J. Foley, D. O. Jones, E. A. Magnier et al.
1 citations
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
1.15
article

Characterizing the standardization properties of type ia supernovae in the z band with hierarchical Bayesian modelling

Qinan Wang, R. J. Foley, D. O. Jones, E. A. Magnier, Christa Gall, Gautham Narayan, Erin E. Hayes, Thomas de Boer, Stephen Thorp, Suhail Dhawan, A. Rest, Kaisey S. Mandel, Chien-Cheng Lin, Kaylee de Soto, Sam M Ward, Matthew Grayling, Aaron Do, D. A. Coulter, Luca Izzo, Katie Auchettl, K. C. Chambers, Hua Gao, Danial Langeroodi, N. Earl
article en
1 citations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are standardizable candles: their peak magnitudes can be corrected for correlations between light-curve properties and their luminosities to precisely estimate distances. Understanding SN Ia standardization across wavelength improves methods for correcting SN Ia magnitudes. Using 150 SNe Ia from the Foundation Supernova Survey and Young Supernova Experiment, we present the first study focusing on SN Ia standardization properties in the z band. Straddling the optical and near-infrared, SN Ia light in the z band is less sensitive to dust extinction and can be collected alongside the optical on CCDs. Pre-standardization, SNe Ia exhibit less residual scatter in z-band peak magnitudes than in the g and r bands. SNe Ia peak z-band magnitudes still exhibit a significant dependence on light-curve shape. Post-standardization, the z-band Hubble diagram has a total scatter of root mean square $=0.195$ mag. We infer a z-band mass step of $\gamma _{z} = -0.105 \pm 0.031$ mag, which is consistent within $1\sigma$ of that estimated from $gri$ data, assuming $R_{V} = 2.61$. When assuming different $R_{V}$ values for high and low mass host galaxies, the z band and optical mass steps remain consistent within $1\sigma$. Based on current statistical precision, these results suggest dust reddening cannot fully explain the mass step. SNe Ia in the z band exhibit complementary standardizability properties to the optical that can improve distance estimates. Understanding these properties is important for the upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory and Nancy G. Roman Space Telescope, which will probe the rest-frame z band to redshifts 0.1 and 1.8.

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical SocietyVol. 541(2)
University of Copenhagen (DK), Space Telescope Science Institute (US), Johns Hopkins University (US), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US), Stockholm University (SE), The University of Melbourne (AU), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), University of Cambridge (GB), University of Hawaii at Hilo (US), Institute of Astronomy (RU), Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian (US), AlbaNova (SE), National Center for Supercomputing Applications (US), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US), University of Birmingham (GB)
National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Villum Fonden, Space Telescope Science Institute, Government of the United Kingdom, UK Research and Innovation, University of Cambridge, European Commission, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Science and Technology Facilities Council, H2020 European Research Council
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
1.15
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