Publication Date:
2021-04-09
Description:
We present the first Hubble diagram of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) out to a redshift of two, together with constraints on the matter density, ΩM, and the dark energy equation-of-state parameter, w( ≡ p/ρ). We build a sample of 20 cosmologically useful SLSNe I based on light curve and spectroscopy quality cuts. We confirm the robustness of the peak decline SLSN I standardization relation with a larger dataset and improved fitting techniques than previous works. We then solve the SLSN model based on the above standardisation via minimization of the χ2 computed from a covariance matrix which includes statistical and systematic uncertainties. For a spatially flat ΛCDM cosmological model, we find $Omega _{
m M}=0.38^{+0.24}_{-0.19}$, with a rms of 0.27 mag for the residuals of the distance moduli. For a w0waCDM cosmological model, the addition of SLSNe I to a ‘baseline’ measurement consisting of Planck temperature together with type Ia supernovae, results in a small improvement in the constraints of w0 and wa of 4%. We present simulations of future surveys with 868 and 492 SLSNe I (depending on the configuration used) and show that such a sample can deliver cosmological constraints in a flat ΛCDM model with the same precision (considering only statistical uncertainties) as current surveys that use type Ia supernovae, while providing a factor 2-3 improvement in the precision of the constraints on the time variation of dark energy, w0 and wa. This paper represents the proof-of-concept for superluminous supernova cosmology, and demonstrates they can provide an independent test of cosmology in the high-redshift (z 〉 1) universe.
Print ISSN:
0035-8711
Electronic ISSN:
1365-2966
Topics:
Physics
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