The Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS), focusing on its objectives, methodologies, and its relationship with other supernova projects, particularly the Supernova Cosmology Project. Participants explore the implications of the survey's findings on the understanding of Type Ia supernovae as standard candles in cosmology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight the SNLS's aim to detect and monitor approximately 2000 supernovae using the Megaprime camera at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.
  • There is a focus on the large spectroscopic survey being conducted with 8m class telescopes to identify supernovae and measure their redshifts, which is crucial for validating Type Ia supernovae as cosmological candles.
  • One participant notes the need for detailed characterization of distant Type Ia supernovae to constrain potential systematics, suggesting that current computer simulations are insufficient for their use as standard candles.
  • Questions arise regarding whether the SNLS is in competition with the Supernova Cosmology Project or if the two projects are complementary in their approaches.
  • A participant references a poster from the AAS meeting, claiming that the SNLS is outperforming previous ground-based high-redshift supernova surveys, while also noting the collaborative nature of the research community.
  • There are assertions that the design of the SNLS is more robust and efficient compared to earlier teams, benefiting from greater access to dark time on multiple 8-10m class observatories.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between the SNLS and the Supernova Cosmology Project, with some suggesting competition and others proposing a complementary relationship. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of the SNLS findings on the characterization of Type Ia supernovae.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention limitations in current computer simulations and models of Type Ia supernovae, indicating that these may affect the understanding of their standard candle properties. There is also a recognition of the collaborative efforts within the research community, which may influence the interpretation of the survey's outcomes.

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http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/Science/CFHLS/MidTermReview/CFHTLS-SNLS-SACreview2005.pdf

http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/SNLS/

The SNLS survey consists of:

A large imaging survey at CFHT
The CFHT Legacy Survey aims at detecting and monitoring about 2000 supernovae with Megaprime at the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope between 2003 and 2008.​

A large spectroscopic survey
Hi-z spectroscopy of SNe is being carried on 8m class telescopes (Gemini, VLT, Keck). The primary goal is to obtain Supernova identification and redshift. Detailed spectroscopy of a subsample of distant SNe is also done to validate the use of Type Ia SNe as cosmological candles.​

This program yielded information on SNLS-03D3bb.
 
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A very interesting programme - the work that will be done to characterise, in considerably more detail, the distant type 1a SNe is just what's needed to constrain many possible systematics for these (i.e. just how 'standard' they are, as candles). This will be particularly welcome, given that computer-based simulations/models of these are still not good enough (for the full 'standard candle' use).
 
hellfire said:
Is this a high redshift project competing with the Supernova Cosmology Project? Or are they somehow complementary?
http://snls.in2p3.fr/conf/posters/AAS207/PosterAAS207-Perrett.pdf from a member of the SNLS team (a poster at the 207th AAS meeting, in Jan this year) puts it rather nicely: "After just over 2 years of operation, the SNLS is already outperforming all previous ground-based high-z SN surveys." (though if you look more closely, you'll see much collaboration).

The design is different from earlier teams', and (one could argue) more robust, and more efficient (not to mention having a great deal more dark time available, on many different 8-10m class observatories!).
 

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