Massive galaxy clusters as gravitational telescopes for distant supernovae

Abstract

We investigate the potential of using massive clusters as gravitational telescopes for searches and studies of supernovae of Type Ia and Type II in optical and near-infrared bands at central wavelengths in the interval 0.8-1.25 microns. Using high-redshift supernova rates derived from the measured star formation rate, we find the most interesting effects for the detection of core-collapse SNe in searches at limiting magnitudes m_lim~25-26.5 mag, where the total detection rate could be significantly enhanced and the number of detectable events is considerable even in a small field. For shallower searches, ~24, a net gain factor of up to 3 in the discovery rate could be obtained, and yet a much larger factor for very high source redshifts. For programs such as the GOODS/ACS transient survey, the discovery rate of supernovae beyond z~2 could be significantly increased if the observations were done in the direction of massive clusters. For extremely deep observations, m_lim > 27 mag, or for very bright SNe (e.g. Type Ia) the competing effect of field reduction by lensing dominates, and fewer supernovae are likely to be discovered behind foreground clusters.

arXiv comment9 pages, 17 figures, matches published version

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Cited by in corpus (12)

• Cluster Lenses
• Illuminating a Dark Lens : A Type Ia Supernova Magnified by the Frontier Fields Galaxy Cluster Abell 2744
• SN Refsdal : Photometry and Time Delay Measurements of the First Einstein Cross Supernova
• Strong gravitational lensing and microlensing of supernovae
• Lensed Type Ia Supernovae as Probes of Cluster Mass Models
• Near-IR Search for Lensed Supernovae Behind Galaxy Clusters - II. First Detection and Future Prospects
• High-redshift supernova rates measured with the gravitational telescope A1689
• Corrections for gravitational lensing of supernovae: better than average?
• A highly magnified supernova at z=1.703 behind the massive galaxy cluster Abell 1689
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• Prospects for observing strongly lensed supernovae behind Hubble Frontier Fields galaxy clusters with the James Webb Space Telescope
• Finding Core Collapse Supernova from the Epoch of Reionization Behind Cluster Lenses