Infrared light curves of Type I supernovae

Abstract

The paper presents observations of two Type I supernovas in NGC 1316 and one in NGC 4536 at J, H, and K, which provide the best available Type I supernova light curves at these wavelengths. The light curves are characterized by a double maximum, with the effect strongest at J due to the development of a transient absorption feature during the intervening minimum. The dispersion of the three sets of light curves in absolute magnitude is less than the uncertainty in relative distances of the supernovas, indicating that infrared light curves of supernovas may be useful as distance indicators within a few tens of Mpc.