Near-Infrared Properties of Type Ia Supernovae

TL;DR

This review summarizes 30 years of near-infrared observations of Type Ia supernovae, highlighting their homogeneity and reliability as standard candles with minor luminosity variations.

Contribution

It consolidates extensive observational data to confirm near-infrared SNe Ia as precise standard candles with minimal luminosity dependence.

Findings

SNe Ia are highly homogeneous in near-infrared light curves

They serve as excellent standard candles with slight luminosity dependence

Over 120 supernovae observed over 30 years

Abstract

The photometric properties of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) in the near-infrared as garnered from observations made over the last 30 years are reviewed. During this period, light curves for more than 120 nearby SNe Ia have been published, revealing considerable homogeneity but also some fascinating differences. These data have confirmed that, for all but the fastest declining objects, SNe Ia are essentially perfect standard candles in the near-infrared, displaying only a slight dependence of peak luminosity on decline rate and color.