Program: GS-2004A-Q-11

Title:The Nature of Dark Energy from Supernovae of Type Ia
PI:Chris Pritchet
Co-I(s): Ray Carlberg, Andy Howell, Mark Sullivan, Arif Babul, David Balam, Sara Ellison, F.D.A. Hartwick, Henk Hoekstra, Tom Merrall, Julio Navarro, Kathy Perrett, David Schade, Luc Simard, Peter Stetson, Sidney van den Bergh, Jon Willis, Isobel Hook, Richard McMahon, Reynald Pain, Saul Perlmutter, James Rich, Nic Walton

Abstract

Type Ia supernovae (SNeIa) provide direct evidence for an accelerating universe, and for the existence of "dark energy" driving this expansion. The CFHT Legacy Survey (CFHTLS ) has now begun to deliver detections, and well-sampled g'r'i'z' light curves, for Type Ia supernovae out to redshifts of order unity (~1000 SNeIa expected over 5 years). Using these data, we will obtain a precise measurement of the cosmological parameters (Omega_mass, Omega_Lambda), our goal is to determine the cosmological equation of state parameter w to a precision of better than +-0.10, and hence test theories for the origin of the universal acceleration. The goal for Gemini this semester is to obtain types and redshifts for ~40 SNeIa candidates out to z~=0.9. This will provide a high quality SNeIa sample comparable in size to existing SNeIa samples, but with superior photometry, light-curve sampling, and colour information. Gemini observations represent a vital component of our overall spectroscopic followup strategy, which also involves the ESO VLT, Keck, and Magellan telescopes. This proposal falls under the new QR (quick response) category, for which the triggers are supernova discoveries from the CFHT Legacy Survey. The approximate trigger dates and coordinates are known months in advance. This proposal is for GMOS-S time, we are also submitting an identical request for GMOS-N time.

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