THE INFRARED LIGHT CURVE OF SN 2011fe IN M101 AND THE DISTANCE TO M101

Abstract

We present near infra-red light curves of supernova (SN) 2011fe in M101, including 34 epochs in H band starting fourteen days before maximum brightness in the B-band. The light curve data were obtained with the WIYN High-Resolution Infrared Camera (WHIRC). When the data are calibrated using templates of other Type Ia SNe, we derive an apparent H-band magnitude at the epoch of B-band maximum of 10.85 ± 0.04. This implies a distance modulus for M101 that ranges from 28.86 to 29.17 mag, depending on which absolute calibration for Type Ia SNe is used.

Testing supernovae Ia distance measurement methods with SN 2011fe

“…This is consistent with the SALT2 result above, but it also agrees marginally (at ∼1σ) with the MLCS2k2 distance modulus. The range of the NIR distance moduli from different calibrations, 0.31 mag (Matheson et al 2012), is a factor of 2 larger than the uncertainties of the individual calibrations (∼0.15 mag) of NIR peak magnitudes of SNe Ia. This may also be a warning sign that the distance measurement technique from NIR LCs of SNe Ia is far from being settled.…”

“…Recently, Matheson et al (2012) published distance estimates to SN 2011fe based on nearinfrared (NIR) photometry. Because SNe Ia appear to be much better standard candles in the NIR than in optical bands, the usage of good-quality NIR photometry for this bright, nearby SN looks promising.…”

“…Because SNe Ia appear to be much better standard candles in the NIR than in optical bands, the usage of good-quality NIR photometry for this bright, nearby SN looks promising. Unfortunately, as Matheson et al (2012) concluded, the present state-of-the-art of getting SNe Ia NIR distances also suffers from an unsolved zero-point calibration problem. This resulted in a wide range of NIR distance moduli for SN 2011fe spanning from 28.84 to 29.14 mag (corrected to H 0 = 73, as above) with a mean value of μ 0 (NIR) = 29.0 ± 0.2 mag (Matheson et al 2012).…”

“…Unfortunately, as Matheson et al (2012) concluded, the present state-of-the-art of getting SNe Ia NIR distances also suffers from an unsolved zero-point calibration problem. This resulted in a wide range of NIR distance moduli for SN 2011fe spanning from 28.84 to 29.14 mag (corrected to H 0 = 73, as above) with a mean value of μ 0 (NIR) = 29.0 ± 0.2 mag (Matheson et al 2012). This is consistent with the SALT2 result above, but it also agrees marginally (at ∼1σ) with the MLCS2k2 distance modulus.…”

“…Matheson et al 2012, and references therein). Although they are not standard candles in the optical (contrary to the widespread statements that they are, which appear frequently even in the most recent papers), their light curve (LC) shape correlates with their peak absolute magnitude, making them standardizable (or calibratable) objects.…”