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Discovery of a supernova explosion at half the age of the Universe

Author

Listed:
  • S. Perlmutter

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Center for Particle Astrophysics, University of California)

  • G. Aldering

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • M. Della Valle

    (Universita’ di Padova)

  • S. Deustua

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California)

  • R. S. Ellis

    (Institute of Astronomy)

  • S. Fabbro

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    LPNHE, Universites Paris VI & VII
    Observatoire de Strasbourg, 11, Rue de l'Universite)

  • A. Fruchter

    (Space Telescope Science Institute)

  • G. Goldhaber

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Center for Particle Astrophysics, University of California)

  • D. E. Groom

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • I. M. Hook

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    European Souther Observatory, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2)

  • A. G. Kim

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Physique Corpusculaire et Cosmologie, Collège de France)

  • M. Y. Kim

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • R. A. Knop

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • C. Lidman

    (European Southern Observatory, Alonso de Cordova)

  • R. G. McMahon

    (Institute of Astronomy)

  • P. Nugent

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

  • R. Pain

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    LPNHE, Universites Paris VI & VII)

  • N. Panagia

    (Space Telescope Science Institute
    Astrophysics Division Space Science Department of ESA)

  • C. R. Pennypacker

    (E. O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California)

  • P. Ruiz-Lapuente

    (Faculty of Physics, University of Barcelona)

  • B. Schaefer

    (Yale University)

  • N. Walton

    (Isaac Newton Group, Apartado 321)

Abstract

The ultimate fate of the Universe, infinite expansion or a big crunch, can be determined by using the redshifts and distances of very distant supernovae to monitor changes in the expansion rate. We can now find1 large numbers of these distant supernovae, and measure their redshifts and apparent brightnesses; moreover, recent studies of nearby type Ia supernovae have shown how to determine their intrinsic luminosities2,3,4—and therefore with their apparent brightnesses obtain their distances. The >50 distant supernovae discovered so far provide a record of changes in the expansion rate over the past several billion years5,6,7. However, it is necessary to extend this expansion history still farther away (hence further back in time) in order to begin to distinguish the causes of the expansion-rate changes—such as the slowing caused by the gravitational attraction of the Universe's mass density, and the possibly counteracting effect of the cosmological constant8. Here we report the most distant spectroscopically confirmed supernova. Spectra and photometry from the largest telescopes on the ground and in space show that this ancient supernova is strikingly similar to nearby, recent type Ia supernovae. When combined with previous measurements of nearer supernovae2,5, these new measurements suggest that we may live in a low-mass-density universe.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Perlmutter & G. Aldering & M. Della Valle & S. Deustua & R. S. Ellis & S. Fabbro & A. Fruchter & G. Goldhaber & D. E. Groom & I. M. Hook & A. G. Kim & M. Y. Kim & R. A. Knop & C. Lidman & R. G. McM, 1998. "Discovery of a supernova explosion at half the age of the Universe," Nature, Nature, vol. 391(6662), pages 51-54, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:391:y:1998:i:6662:d:10.1038_34124
    DOI: 10.1038/34124
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    Cited by:

    1. Guridi, Jose A. & Pertuze, Julio A. & Pfotenhauer, Sebastian M., 2020. "Natural laboratories as policy instruments for technological learning and institutional capacity building: The case of Chile's astronomy cluster," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(2).

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