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The Type Ia Supernova Rate at z ≈ 0.5 from the Supernova Legacy Survey**Based on observations obtained with MegaPrime/MegaCam, a joint project of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) and CEA/DAPNIA, at CFHT, which is operated by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, the Institut National des Sciences de l’Univers of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) of France, and the University of Hawaii. This work is based in part on data products produced at the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre as part of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey, a collaborative project of NRC and CNRS. This work is also based on observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory using the Very Large Telescope on the Cerro Paranal (ESO Large Program 171.A-0486), and on observations (programs GN-2004A-Q-19, GS-2004A-Q-11, GN-2003B-Q-9, and GS-2003B-Q-8) obtained at the Gemini Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under a cooperati

Published Web Location

https://doi.org/10.1086/505532
Abstract

We present a measurement of the distant Type la supernova (SN Ia) rate derived from the first 2 yr of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Supernova Legacy Survey. We observed four 1° × 1° fields with a typical temporal frequency of (Δt) ∼ 4 observer-frame days over time spans of 158-211 days per season for each field, with breaks during the full Moon. We used 8-10 m class telescopes for spectroscopic follow-up to confirm our candidates and determine their redshifts. Our starting sample consists of 73 spectroscopically verified SNe la in the redshift range 0.2 < z < 0.6. We derive a volumetric SN Ia rate of r V(〈z〉 = 0.47) = [0.42 0.090.13(syst.) ± 0.06(stat.)] × 10 -4 yr -1 Mpc 3, assuming h = 0.7, Ω m -0.3, and a flat cosmology. Using recently published galaxy luminosity functions derived in our redshift range, we derive a SN Ia rate per unit luminosity of r L(〈z〉 = 0.47) = 0.154 -0.0330.048(syst.) 0.0310.039(stat.) SN units. Using our rate alone, we place an upper limit on the component of SN la production that tracks the cosmic star formation history of 1 SN la per 10 3 M ⊙ of stars formed. Our rate and other rates from surveys using spectroscopic sample confirmation display only a modest evolution out to z = 0.55. © 2006. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

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