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E. Linder (LBNL), SNAP Collaboration
The accelerating expansion of the universe suggests that an unknown component with strongly negative pressure, called dark energy, currently dominates the dynamics of the universe. The best method for exploring the nature of this dark energy is to map the recent expansion history, at which Type Ia supernovae have proved adept. We examine here the depth of survey necessary to provide a precise and qualitatively complete description of dark energy. Realistic analysis of parameter degeneracies, allowance for natural time variation of the dark energy equation of state, and systematic errors in astrophysical observations all demonstrate the importance of a survey covering the full range of redshifts from 0 to 2 for revealing the nature of dark energy. The SuperNova / Acceleration Probe (SNAP) can determine the dark energy density and its equation of state and even explore the crucial physics revealed by the equation of state's time variation. To lay a firm foundation for this ambitious project requires systematic investigation of supernovae at a wide range of redshifts using both ground-based telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope. We will discuss the realistic contributions and limitations of these different generations of experiments.
This work has been supported by the US Dept. Of Energy, Office of Science, under contract DE-AC03-76SF00098.
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The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: evlinder@lbl.gov
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.