Limits to star formation in post starburst galaxies from Type II supernovae

TL;DR

This study uses the absence of Type II supernovae in post starburst galaxies to place upper limits on their current star formation rates, revealing these galaxies have very low ongoing star formation activity.

Contribution

It provides the first constraints on star formation rates in post starburst galaxies using supernova observations, establishing upper limits based on non-detections.

Findings

Star formation rate in post starburst galaxies is less than 0.8 solar masses per year.

No Type II supernovae were detected in the studied galaxies.

The results imply suppressed current star formation in post starburst galaxies.

Abstract

We establish significant upper limits to the current star formation rate in two samples of post starburst galaxies by measuring the rate of Type II supernovae from the Zwicky Transient Factory Bright Transient Survey. No Type II supernovae are observed within the Petrosian radii of $z < 0.05$ post starburst galaxies during this supernova search survey. We calculate that at 95\% confidence level the star formation rate in these galaxies is $< 0.8$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$.