A Type Ia supernova has decline rate (the drop in magnitude in the fifteen days after…

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Astrophysics & Cosmology · Observational foundations and instrumentation · Stellar death and compact objects

Stars from the Inside, Ch Stellar explosions: core collapse, the neutrino-driven shock, radioactive light and remnants

Problem

A Type Ia supernova has decline rate Δm15=1.5 mag\Delta m_{15} = 1.5\,\mathrm{mag} (the drop in BB magnitude in the fifteen days after peak) and observed peak apparent magnitude mB=15.2m_B = 15.2. Its peak absolute magnitude is standardised by the Phillips relation MB=−19.3+0.8(Δm15−1.1) mag.M_B = -19.3 + 0.8(\Delta m_{15} - 1.1)\ \mathrm{mag}. ((a)) Find MBM_B. ((b)) Find the distance modulus and the distance to the supernova in megaparsecs.

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