Limits on the Density of Compact Objects from High Redshift Supernovae

TL;DR

This paper investigates how gravitational lensing effects on high-redshift supernovae can constrain the fraction of dark matter in compact objects, using simulations to model magnification distributions.

Contribution

It introduces a method combining N-body simulations to estimate magnification distributions for various dark matter compositions, enabling measurement of the compact object fraction.

Findings

A 20% fraction of dark matter in compact objects can be measured with 100-400 supernovae at z~1.

The approach can distinguish smooth dark matter from compact object scenarios.

The required number of supernovae depends on the precision of measurements and cosmological parameters.

Abstract

Due to the effects of gravitational lensing, the magnification distribution of high redshift supenovae can be a powerful discriminator between smooth dark matter and dark matter consisting of compact objects. We use high resolution N-body simulations in combination with the results of simulations with compact objects to determine the magnification distribution for a Universe with an arbitrary fraction of the dark matter in compact objects. Using these distributions we determine the number of type Ia SNe required to measure the fraction of matter in compact objects. It is possible to determine a 20% fraction of matter in compact objects with 100-400 well measured SNe at $z \sim 1$, assuming the background cosmological model is well determined.