Logo
ScienceStack
Table of Contents
Fetching ...
Sign In

ESO Expanding Horizons: Underluminous Thermonuclear Supernovae

Paul J. Groot, Simone Scaringi, Nancy Elias-Rosa

TL;DR

Underluminous thermonuclear supernovae (uTSNe) are faint, SN Ia–like transients whose origins as white-dwarf deflagrations and cosmological relevance remain unclear. The paper argues for Expanding Horizons to tackle key gaps: $<0.1''$-resolution AO-assisted wide-field imaging over fields $>10'×10'$ and a time-critical, segmented-telescope spectroscopic network. It outlines a technology plan for a dynamic array of >100 AO-enabled 1–4 m telescopes with fiber-fed spectrographs and zero-readout-noise detectors, plus on-demand scheduling. Open-science questions for the 2040s include rates across host populations, the link to SN Ia mechanisms, chemical enrichment, and potential biases in cosmological use, with a cadence goal of $<1$ hour for all-sky follow-up.

Abstract

Underluminous Thermonuclear Supernovae (uTSNe) are an emerging class of transient events that resemble classic Supernovae Type Ia, but peak at much lower luminosities. Suspected to be the deflagrations of white dwarfs, they directly link the final stages of low-mass binary star evolution to extragalactic studies that are critical for cosmology. The ability to detect and study uTSNe is limited by the lack of high spatial resolution (<0.1"), wide-field (>10'x10') imaging capabilities in the optical, as well as large-scale segmented-telescope spectroscopic abilities that allow highly dynamic time-critical spectroscopy of short-duration transient events. Neither capability is currently foreseen for the European Southern Observatory and is therefore an excellent candidate for the Expanding Horizons program.

ESO Expanding Horizons: Underluminous Thermonuclear Supernovae

TL;DR

Underluminous thermonuclear supernovae (uTSNe) are faint, SN Ia–like transients whose origins as white-dwarf deflagrations and cosmological relevance remain unclear. The paper argues for Expanding Horizons to tackle key gaps: -resolution AO-assisted wide-field imaging over fields and a time-critical, segmented-telescope spectroscopic network. It outlines a technology plan for a dynamic array of >100 AO-enabled 1–4 m telescopes with fiber-fed spectrographs and zero-readout-noise detectors, plus on-demand scheduling. Open-science questions for the 2040s include rates across host populations, the link to SN Ia mechanisms, chemical enrichment, and potential biases in cosmological use, with a cadence goal of hour for all-sky follow-up.

Abstract

Underluminous Thermonuclear Supernovae (uTSNe) are an emerging class of transient events that resemble classic Supernovae Type Ia, but peak at much lower luminosities. Suspected to be the deflagrations of white dwarfs, they directly link the final stages of low-mass binary star evolution to extragalactic studies that are critical for cosmology. The ability to detect and study uTSNe is limited by the lack of high spatial resolution (<0.1"), wide-field (>10'x10') imaging capabilities in the optical, as well as large-scale segmented-telescope spectroscopic abilities that allow highly dynamic time-critical spectroscopy of short-duration transient events. Neither capability is currently foreseen for the European Southern Observatory and is therefore an excellent candidate for the Expanding Horizons program.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 4 sections, 1 figure.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction and Background
  2. Developments in the coming years
  3. Open Science Questions in the 2040s
  4. Technology and Data Handling Requirements

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Decay rate vs peak luminosity of thermonuclear supernovae, showing the classic SN Ia relation at the bright end and the growing population of underluminous supernovae ($M_{\rm B,max} < -18$). Luminosity limits as a function of distance are shown for 20 and 100 Mpc, assuming a detection limit equal to the sky background in the optical. Adapted from [11]