Supernova constraints and systematic uncertainties from the first three years of the Supernova Legacy Survey

A. Conley*, J. Guy, M. Sullivan, N. Regnault, P. Astier, C. Balland, S. Basa, R. G. Carlberg, D. Fouchez, D. Hardin, I. M. Hook, D. A. Howell, R. Pain, N. Palanque-Delabrouille, K. M. Perrett, C. J. Pritchet, J. Rich, V. Ruhlmann-Kleider, D. Balam, S. BaumontR. S. Ellis, S. Fabbro, H. K. Fakhouri, N. Fourmanoit, S. González-Gaitán, M. L. Graham, M. J. Hudson, E. Hsiao, T. Kronborg, C. Lidman, A. M. Mourao, J. D. Neill, S. Perlmutter, P. Ripoche, N. Suzuki, E. S. Walker

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

367 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We combine high-redshift Type Ia supernovae from the first three years of the Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS) with other supernova (SN) samples, primarily at lower redshifts, to form a high-quality joint sample of 472 SNe (123 low-z, 93 SDSS, 242 SNLS, and 14 Hubble Space Telescope). SN data alone require cosmic acceleration at >99.999% confidence, including systematic effects. For the dark energy equation of state parameter (assumed constant out to at least z = 1.4) in a flat universe, we find w = -0.91-0.20+0.16 (stat)+0.07-0.14 (sys) from SNe only, consistent with a cosmological constant. Our fits include a correction for the recently discovered relationship between hostgalaxy mass and SN absolute brightness. We pay particular attention to systematic uncertainties, characterizing them using a systematic covariance matrix that incorporates the redshift dependence of these effects, as well as the shape-luminosity and color-luminosity relationships. Unlike previous work, we include the effects of systematic terms on the empirical light-curve models. The total systematic uncertainty is dominated by calibration terms. We describe how the systematic uncertainties can be reduced with soon to be available improved nearby and intermediate-redshift samples, particularly those calibrated onto USNO/SDSS-like systems.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume192
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2011
Externally publishedYes

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