Globular Clusters as Testbeds for Type Ia Supernovae

Abstract

Fundamental mysteries remain regarding the physics of Type Ia supernovae (SNIa) and their stellar progenitors. We argue here that important clues to these questions may emerge by the identification of those SNIa that occur in extragalactic globular clusters--stellar systems with well defined ages and metallicities. We estimate an all-sky rate of approximately 0.1 eta (D/100 Mpc)^3 per year for SNIa in globular clusters within a distance D, where eta is the rate enhancement per unit mass as a result of dynamical production channels that are inaccessible in the galactic field. If eta is approximately 2-10, as suggested by observations and theory, the combined efforts of accurate supernova astrometry and deep follow-up imaging should identify the > 1% of nearby (D < 100 Mpc) SNIa that occur in globular clusters.