What can we learn from Type Ia/II Supernovae rates at high-z ?

Abstract

We show how Type Ia/II supernova rates at various redshifts can be used to follow the cosmic star formation rate (CSFR) history. Using the recent e stimate of the Cosmic Star Formation (CSFR), we compute the predicted cosmic Type Ia/II supernovae rates. We show that while SNII rates provide a direct measurement of the instantaneous CSFR, the SNIa rate depends on the past history of the CSFR. This provides us with a new and independent diagnostic of the star formation rate. The comparison with the data are in good agreement with both local and high-$z$ measurement and provides an additional evid ence of the validity of the CSFR up to $z = 1$, but suggests higer values at $z > 1$ co nsistent with the presence of extinction effects. Measurement of SNIa rate up to $z {\s im}$ 1 will be crucial for our understanding of the star formation history at early epo chs $z > 1$. We also show that current observations on Type Ia supernovae rate already give us valubale information on the nature of their progenitors.

4 pages, 3 figures, To appear in the Proceedings of the Xth Conference of Blois, "The Birth of Galaxies", held at Blois, France, June 28-July4, 1998