Volume-limited samples of supernovae
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1996
Abstract
I have constructed two volume-limited samples of supernovae; the first of extragalactic events with a distance modulus less than 29 mag (H0 = 75), and the second of Galactic supernovae from the last millennium within 4 kpc. Out of 33 total events in these samples, a surprising number are either greatly subluminous or possessing highly unusual spectroscopic or photometric properties. My conclusions are as follows. (1) A significant fraction (probably the majority) of Type la events are not standard candles, with most being subluminous by from 1 to 6 mag. (2) The luminosity function of Type II events is roughly flat from MB equal to -18.3 to -15.2 and then rises sharply to lower brightnesses with events as faint as -11.8. (3) Type Ia, Ib, and II events constitute 24%, 14%, and 62% of the samples. (4) One-third of all supernovae cannot be placed in the traditional classification scheme due to unusual properties. (5) A deep supernova search to MB = -12 will discover subluminous events that can serve as well-observed prototypes of new explosion mechanisms. © 1996. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Astrophysical Journal
First Page
404
Last Page
411
Recommended Citation
Schaefer, B. (1996). Volume-limited samples of supernovae. Astrophysical Journal, 464 (1 PART I), 404-411. https://doi.org/10.1086/177331
