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D. A. Howell, J. C. Wheeler (The University of Texas at Austin)
The radial distribution of supernovae (SNe) within galaxies is studied and comparisons are made between different types of SNe. Previous studies have been affected by a form of selection bias called the Shaw Effect - SNe have historically been missed near the centers of galaxies due to overexposure of galaxy cores on photographic plates. This study compares only SNe discovered on CCDs, so should be free from the Shaw Effect. Other potential forms of selection bias are investigated, including differences between the distribution of SNe found in directed searches versus SNe discovered by chance. Type Ia SNe are found to be more centrally concentrated in galaxies than Type II SNe. This reveals important details about the nature of the progenitors of Type Ia SNe, and has implications for the determination of SN rates, the source of positrons in galaxies, and the chemical enrichment of galaxies.
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: howell@astro.as.utexas.edu