NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0530
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0530 |
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PI: Thomas Matheson, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, matheson@noao.edu
Address: NGSC, 950 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
CoI: Stephane Blondin, European Southern Observatory
CoI: Luc Dessart, Princeton University
CoI: Bruno Leibundgut, European Southern Observatory
CoI: D. John Hillier, University of Pittsburgh
CoI: Robert P. Kirshner, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
CoI: Brian Schmidt, MSSSO, Australian National University
Title: Constraining the Hubble Constant with Type II Supernovae
Abstract: We plan to determine the Hubble constant (H_0) to \lesssim10% by \it directly inferring distances to a sample of Type II-P supernovae (SNe) in the Hubble flow (cz ~ 9000 km/s), independent of any of the lower rungs on the distance ladder. Measurements of cosmological parameters are currently limited by the precision of H_0. Continuing our program, we propose to obtain multi- epoch photospheric-phase high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectroscopic observations with GMOS. We will perform a detailed quantitative spectroscopic non-LTE model atmosphere analysis, and infer the SN distance with a \lesssim10% accuracy. In two recent papers (Dessart & Hillier 2006; Dessart et al. 2008), we find excellent agreement between direct distance measurements to three nearby Type II-P SNe and other distance estimates (Cepheid, SBF). Ultimately, to reduce the statistical uncertainty in the inferred H_0 value, we plan to collect distances for three more SNe over as many semesters, along with a comparable number obtained at the VLT.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0530 |
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