Observational Constraints on the Nature of Dark Energy: First Cosmological Results from the ESSENCE Supernova Survey

We present constraints on the dark energy equation-of-state parameter, w = P/(ρc2), using 60 SNe Ia from the ESSENCE supernova survey. We derive a set of constraints on the nature of the dark energy assuming a flat universe. By including constraints on (ΩM, w) from baryon acoustic oscillations, we obtain a value for a static equation-of-state parameter w = -1.05 (stat 1 σ) ± 0.13 (sys) and ΩM = 0.274 (stat 1 σ) with a best-fit χ2/dof of 0.96. These results are consistent with those reported by the Supernova Legacy Survey from the first year of a similar program measuring supernova distances and redshifts. We evaluate sources of systematic error that afflict supernova observations and present Monte Carlo simulations that explore these effects. Currently, the largest systematic with the potential to affect our measurements is the treatment of extinction due to dust in the supernova host galaxies. Combining our set of ESSENCE SNe Ia with the first-results Supernova Legacy Survey SNe Ia, we obtain a joint constraint of w = -1.07 (stat 1 σ) ± 0.13 (sys), ΩM = 0.267 (stat 1 σ) with a best-fit χ2/dof of 0.91. The current global SN Ia data alone rule out empty (ΩM = 0), matter-only ΩM = 0.3, and ΩM = 1 universes at >4.5 σ. The current SN Ia data are fully consistent with a cosmological constant.

[1]  M. Sullivan,et al.  SALT2: using distant supernovae to improve the use of type Ia supernovae as distance indicators , 2007, astro-ph/0701828.

[2]  W. M. Wood-Vasey,et al.  Scrutinizing Exotic Cosmological Models Using ESSENCE Supernova Data Combined with Other Cosmological Probes , 2007, astro-ph/0701510.

[3]  J. Cepa,et al.  Redshift-distance relations from type Ia supernova observations - New constraints on grey dust models , 2007, astro-ph/0701259.

[4]  N. B. Suntzeff,et al.  The ESSENCE Supernova Survey: Survey Optimization, Observations, and Supernova Photometry , 2007, astro-ph/0701043.

[5]  D. Holz,et al.  Direct reconstruction of the dark energy scalar-field potential , 2006, astro-ph/0611093.

[6]  A. Riess,et al.  Improved Distances to Type Ia Supernovae with Multicolor Light-Curve Shapes: MLCS2k2 , 2006, astro-ph/0612666.

[7]  Stefano Casertano,et al.  New Hubble Space Telescope Discoveries of Type Ia Supernovae at z ≥ 1: Narrowing Constraints on the Early Behavior of Dark Energy , 2006, astro-ph/0611572.

[8]  C. Fridlund,et al.  Methanol in the L1551 Circumbinary Torus , 2006, astro-ph/0609661.

[9]  J. Neill,et al.  The type Ia supernova SNLS-03D3bb from a super-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf star , 2006, Nature.

[10]  D. Helfand,et al.  A Direct Upper Limit on the Density of Cosmological Dust from the Absence of an X-Ray Scattering Halo around the z = 4.3 Quasar QSO 1508+5714 , 2006, astro-ph/0609589.

[11]  J. Neill,et al.  The Rise Time of Type Ia Supernovae from the Supernova Legacy Survey , 2006, astro-ph/0607363.

[12]  R. Blandford,et al.  A kinematical approach to dark energy studies , 2006, astro-ph/0605683.

[13]  J. Neill,et al.  Rates and Properties of Type Ia Supernovae as a Function of Mass and Star Formation in Their Host Galaxies , 2006, astro-ph/0605455.

[14]  M. Sullivan,et al.  The Type Ia Supernova Rate at z ≈ 0.5 from the Supernova Legacy Survey , 2006, astro-ph/0605148.

[15]  Christopher W. Stubbs,et al.  Toward 1% Photometry: End-to-End Calibration of Astronomical Telescopes and Detectors , 2006, astro-ph/0604285.

[16]  J. Prieto,et al.  A New Method to Calibrate the Magnitudes of Type Ia Supernovae at Maximum Light , 2006, astro-ph/0603407.

[17]  S. Jha,et al.  Late-Time Spectroscopy of SN 2002cx: The Prototype of a New Subclass of Type Ia Supernovae , 2006, astro-ph/0602250.

[18]  A. Cooray,et al.  Large-scale bulk motions complicate the hubble diagram , 2006, astro-ph/0601377.

[19]  L. Hui,et al.  Correlated fluctuations in luminosity distance and the importance of peculiar motion in supernova surveys , 2005, astro-ph/0512159.

[20]  J. Prieto,et al.  Hubble Space Telescope and Ground-based Observations of Type Ia Supernovae at Redshift 0.5: Cosmological Implications , 2005, astro-ph/0510155.

[21]  Wendy L. Freedman,et al.  The Carnegie Supernova Project: The Low‐Redshift Survey , 2005, astro-ph/0512039.

[22]  M. Turatto,et al.  1604-2004: Supernovae as Cosmological Lighthouses , 2005 .

[23]  J. Neill,et al.  Photometric Selection of High-Redshift Type Ia Supernova Candidates , 2005, astro-ph/0510857.

[24]  T. Davis,et al.  Ideal Bandpasses for Type Ia Supernova Cosmology , 2005, astro-ph/0511017.

[25]  W. M. Wood-Vasey,et al.  Using Line Profiles to Test the Fraternity of Type Ia Supernovae at High and Low Redshifts , 2005, astro-ph/0510089.

[26]  A. Goobar,et al.  Looking at quasars through galaxies , 2005, astro-ph/0509904.

[27]  Warren R. Brown,et al.  UBVRI Light Curves of 44 Type Ia Supernovae , 2005, astro-ph/0509234.

[28]  J. Neill,et al.  Gemini Spectroscopy of Supernovae from the Supernova Legacy Survey: Improving High-Redshift Supernova Selection and Classification , 2005, astro-ph/0509195.

[29]  M. S. Burns,et al.  Spectra of High-Redshift Type Ia Supernovae and a Comparison with Their Low-Redshift Counterparts , 2005, astro-ph/0509041.

[30]  K. Stanek,et al.  The Fate of the Most Massive Stars , 2005 .

[31]  Kevin Krisciunas,et al.  Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Nine High-Redshift ESSENCE Supernovae,, , 2005, astro-ph/0508681.

[32]  S. Jha,et al.  Chemistry and Star Formation in the Host Galaxies of Type Ia Supernovae , 2005, astro-ph/0508180.

[33]  Marco Riello,et al.  Extinction correction for Type Ia supernova rates – I. The model , 2005, astro-ph/0506684.

[34]  P. Astier,et al.  SALT : a spectral adaptive light curve template for type Ia supernovae , 2005, astro-ph/0506583.

[35]  R. Foley,et al.  A Definitive Measurement of Time Dilation in the Spectral Evolution of the Moderate-Redshift Type Ia Supernova 1997ex , 2005, astro-ph/0504481.

[36]  Pasadena,et al.  Reddening, Absorption, and Decline Rate Corrections for a Complete Sample of Type Ia Supernovae Leading to a Fully Corrected Hubble Diagram to v < 30,000 km s–1 , 2005, astro-ph/0501664.

[37]  R. Nichol,et al.  Detection of the Baryon Acoustic Peak in the Large-Scale Correlation Function of SDSS Luminous Red Galaxies , 2005, astro-ph/0501171.

[38]  A. Filippenko,et al.  Type Ia Supernovae and Cosmology , 2004, astro-ph/0410609.

[39]  M. S. Burns,et al.  Spectroscopic confirmation of high-redshift supernovae with the ESO VLT , 2004, astro-ph/0410506.

[40]  G. Voit.  Tracing cosmic evolution with clusters of galaxies , 2004, astro-ph/0410173.

[41]  B. M'enard,et al.  Revisiting the magnification of type Ia supernovae with SDSS , 2004, astro-ph/0407023.

[42]  Harry L. Shipman,et al.  White Dwarfs: Cosmological and Galactic Probes , 2005 .

[43]  D. Holz,et al.  Safety in Numbers: Gravitational Lensing Degradation of the Luminosity Distance-Redshift Relation , 2004, astro-ph/0412173.

[44]  J. Lucey,et al.  A comparison of local Type Ia supernovae with the IRAS PSCz gravity field , 2004, astro-ph/0409551.

[45]  Ralph C. Bohlin,et al.  Hubble Space Telescope Absolute Spectrophotometry of Vega from the Far-Ultraviolet to the Infrared , 2004 .

[46]  E. Commins.  Observational selection, host galaxy dust, and Type Ia supernovae , 2004 .

[47]  Stefano Casertano,et al.  Type Ia Supernova Discoveries at z > 1 from the Hubble Space Telescope: Evidence for Past Deceleration and Constraints on Dark Energy Evolution , 2004, astro-ph/0402512.

[48]  Adam G. Riess,et al.  Twenty-Three High-Redshift Supernovae from the Institute for Astronomy Deep Survey: Doubling the Supernova Sample at z > 0.7 , 2004 .

[49]  M. Turatto,et al.  Cepheid calibration of Type Ia supernovae and the Hubble constant , 2004, astro-ph/0401273.

[50]  M. Kunz,et al.  Cosmic distance-duality as a probe of exotic physics and acceleration , 2003, astro-ph/0312443.

[51]  R. Miquel,et al.  Effects of systematic uncertainties on the supernova determination of cosmological parameters , 2003, astro-ph/0304509.

[52]  A. Karimi,et al.  Master‟s thesis , 2011 .

[53]  Mamoru Doi,et al.  New Constraints on ΩM, ΩΛ, and w from an Independent Set of 11 High-Redshift Supernovae Observed with the Hubble Space Telescope , 2003 .

[54]  Michael C. Liu,et al.  23 High Redshift Supernovae from the IfA Deep Survey: Doubling the SN Sample at z>0.7 , 2003, astro-ph/0310843.

[55]  J. Sollerman,et al.  Imaging and Demography of the Host Galaxies of High-Redshift Type Ia Supernovae , 2003, astro-ph/0310432.

[56]  D. Burstein.  Line-of-Sight Reddening Predictions: Zero Points, Accuracies, the Interstellar Medium, and the Stellar Populations of Elliptical Galaxies , 2003, astro-ph/0306591.

[57]  Peter Garnavich,et al.  Cosmological Results from High-z Supernovae , 2003, astro-ph/0305008.

[58]  Gerson Goldhaber,et al.  Multicolor Light Curves of Type Ia Supernovae on the Color-Magnitude Diagram: A Novel Step toward More Precise Distance and Extinction Estimates , 2003, astro-ph/0302341.

[59]  Caltech,et al.  SN 2002cx: The Most Peculiar Known Type Ia Supernova , 2003, astro-ph/0301428.

[60]  M. S. Burns,et al.  The Hubble diagram of type Ia supernovae as a function of host galaxy morphology , 2002, astro-ph/0211444.

[61]  E. Linder.  Exploring the expansion history of the universe. , 2002, Physical review letters.

[62]  R. Kirshner.  The Extravagant Universe: Exploding Stars, Dark Energy, and the Accelerating Cosmos , 2002 .

[63]  R. Ellis,et al.  Parameter constraints for flat cosmologies from cosmic microwave background and 2dFGRS power spectra , 2002, astro-ph/0206256.

[64]  P. Nugent,et al.  K‐Corrections and Extinction Corrections for Type Ia Supernovae , 2002, astro-ph/0205351.

[65]  A. Goobar,et al.  Measuring the properties of extragalactic dust and implications for the hubble diagram , 2002, astro-ph/0201012.

[66]  W. M. Wood-Vasey,et al.  The nearby supernova factory , 2004, astro-ph/0401513.

[67]  Bruno Leibundgut,et al.  COSMOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS FROM OBSERVATIONS OF TYPE IA SUPERNOVAE , 2001 .

[68]  E. Ofek,et al.  The Unique Type Ia Supernova 2000cx in NGC 524 , 2001, astro-ph/0107318.

[69]  R. Ellis,et al.  The 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey: the power spectrum and the matter content of the Universe , 2001, astro-ph/0105252.

[70]  A. S. Fruchter,et al.  Timescale Stretch Parameterization of Type Ia Supernova B-Band Light Curves , 2001, astro-ph/0104382.

[71]  Alexei V. Filippenko,et al.  The Lick Observatory Supernova Search with the Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope , 2001 .

[72]  M. Chevallier,et al.  ACCELERATING UNIVERSES WITH SCALING DARK MATTER , 2000, gr-qc/0009008.

[73]  A. Riess.  The Case for an Accelerating Universe from Supernovae , 2000, astro-ph/0005229.

[74]  Saul Perlmutter,et al.  Supernovae, Dark Energy, and the Accelerating Universe , 2000 .

[75]  Michael C. Liu,et al.  Tests of the Accelerating Universe with Near-Infrared Observations of a High-Redshift Type Ia Supernova , 2000, astro-ph/0001384.

[76]  A. Riess,et al.  Uniformity of (V–Near-Infrared) Color Evolution of Type Ia Supernovae and Implications for Host Galaxy Extinction Determination , 1999, astro-ph/9912219.

[77]  Z. Haiman,et al.  Cosmological Constant or Intergalactic Dust? Constraints from the Cosmic Far-Infrared Background , 1999, astro-ph/9907039.

[78]  R. Schommer,et al.  The Reddening-Free Decline Rate Versus Luminosity Relationship for Type Ia Supernovae , 1999, astro-ph/9907052.

[79]  David J. Schlegel,et al.  Extrapolation of Galactic Dust Emission at 100 Microns to Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation Frequencies Using FIRAS , 1999, astro-ph/9905128.

[80]  A. Aguirre.  Intergalactic Dust and Observations of Type Ia Supernovae , 1999, astro-ph/9904319.

[81]  I. Hook,et al.  Measurements of Ω and Λ from 42 High-Redshift Supernovae , 1998, astro-ph/9812133.

[82]  I. Zehavi,et al.  A Local Hubble Bubble from Type Ia Supernovae? , 1998 .

[83]  D. Schlegel,et al.  Maps of Dust Infrared Emission for Use in Estimation of Reddening and Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation Foregrounds , 1998 .

[84]  A. Riess,et al.  Observational Evidence from Supernovae for an Accelerating Universe and a Cosmological Constant , 1998, astro-ph/9805201.

[85]  M. Phillips,et al.  The High-Z Supernova Search: Measuring Cosmic Deceleration and Global Curvature of the Universe Using Type Ia Supernovae , 1998, astro-ph/9805200.

[86]  C. Bennett,et al.  The Spectrum of the Extragalactic Far-Infrared Background from the COBE FIRAS Observations , 1998, astro-ph/9803021.

[87]  M. White.  Complementary Measures of the Mass Density and Cosmological Constant , 1998, astro-ph/9802295.

[88]  I. Zehavi,et al.  A Local Hubble Bubble from SNe Ia , 1998, astro-ph/9802252.

[89]  R. Ellis,et al.  Discovery of a supernova explosion at half the age of the Universe , 1997, Nature.

[90]  D. Branch,et al.  Extinction and Radial Distribution of Supernova Properties in Their Parent Galaxies , 1997, astro-ph/9711311.

[91]  D. Schlegel,et al.  Maps of Dust IR Emission for Use in Estimation of Reddening and CMBR Foregrounds , 1997, astro-ph/9710327.

[92]  Alexei V. Filippenko,et al.  Optical spectra of supernovae , 1997 .

[93]  A. Riess,et al.  Time Dilation from Spectral Feature Age Measurements of Type Ia Supernovae , 1997, astro-ph/9707260.

[94]  R. Schommer,et al.  The Absolute Luminosities of the Calan/Tololo Type Ia Supernovae , 1996, astro-ph/9609059.

[95]  E. al.,et al.  BVRI Light Curves for 22 Type Ia Supernovae , 1996, astro-ph/9609064.

[96]  J. C. Lee,et al.  Measurements of the Cosmological Parameters Ω and Λ from the First Seven Supernovae at z ≥ 0.35 , 1996, astro-ph/9608192.

[97]  R. Kirshner,et al.  Time Dilation in the Light Curve of the Distant Type Ia Supernova SN 1995K , 1996 .

[98]  E. L. Wright,et al.  The Cosmic Microwave Background Spectrum from the Full COBE FIRAS Data Set , 1996, astro-ph/9605054.

[99]  William Press,et al.  A Precise Distance Indicator: Type Ia Supernova Multicolor Light-Curve Shapes , 1996, astro-ph/9604143.

[100]  Molefe Mokoene,et al.  The Messenger , 1995, Outrageous Fortune.

[101]  A. Kim,et al.  A GENERALIZED K CORRECTION FOR TYPE IA SUPERNOVAE: COMPARING R-BAND PHOTOMETRY BEYOND Z=0.2 WITH B, V, AND R-BAND NEARBY PHOTOMETRY , 1995, astro-ph/9505024.

[102]  W. Press,et al.  Determining the Motion of the Local Group Using SN Ia Light Curve Shapes , 1994, astro-ph/9412017.

[103]  Dale J. Fixsen,et al.  Design for the COBE far-infrared absolute spectrophotometer , 1993, Optics & Photonics.

[104]  R. Terlevich,et al.  A Supernova at z = 0.458 and Implications for Measuring theCosmological Deceleration , 1993, astro-ph/9505023.

[105]  M. Phillips,et al.  The Absolute Magnitudes of Type IA Supernovae , 1993 .

[106]  M. Hamuy,et al.  K-CORRECTIONS FOR TYPE IA SUPERNOVAE , 1993 .

[107]  Jan Peters,et al.  SN 1991bg - A type Ia supernova with a difference , 1993 .

[108]  L. Ho,et al.  The subluminous spectroscopically peculiar type Ia supernova 1991bg in the elliptical galaxy NGC 4374 , 1992 .

[109]  R. Kirshner,et al.  SN 1991T: Further Evidence of the Heterogeneous Nature of Type IA Supernovae , 1992 .

[110]  D. Schlegel,et al.  The peculiar type Ia SN 1991T : detonation of a white dwarf ? , 1992 .

[111]  Samuel Harvey Moseley,et al.  A Preliminary measurement of the Cosmic Microwave Background spectrum by the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite , 1990 .

[112]  J. Mathis,et al.  The relationship between infrared, optical, and ultraviolet extinction , 1989 .

[113]  W. Couch,et al.  The discovery of a type Ia supernova at a redshift of 0.31 , 1989, Nature.

[114]  S. A. Colgate,et al.  Supernovae as a standard candle for cosmology. , 1979 .

[115]  M. Longair,et al.  Scientific research with the space telescope : International Astronomical Union, Colloquium number 54, held at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J., August 8-11, 1979 , 1979 .

[116]  C. Heiles,et al.  H I, galaxy counts, and reddening: Variation in the gas-to-dust ratio, the extinction at high galactic latitudes, and a new method for determining galactic reddening , 1978 .

[117]  C. Kowal.  ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDES OF SUPERNOVAE. , 1968 .

[118]  R. Minkowski,et al.  Spectra of Supernovae , 1941 .

[119]  O. C. Wilson,et al.  Possible Applications of Supernovae to the Study of the Nebular Red Shifts. , 1939 .

[120]  F. Zwicky,et al.  On Super-Novae , 1934, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[121]  E. Hubble,et al.  No. 376. A spiral nebula as a stellar system. Messier 31. , 1929 .

[122]  H. Shapley,et al.  ON THE EXISTENCE OF EXTERNAL GALAXIES , 1919 .