A precision photometric comparison between SDSS-II and CSP type IA supernova data

Abstract

Consistency between Carnegie Supernova Project (CSP) and SDSS-II Supernova Survey ugri measurements has been evaluated by comparing Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and CSP photometry for nine spectroscopically confirmed Type Ia supernova observed contemporaneously by both programs. The CSP data were transformed into the SDSS photometric system. Sources of systematic uncertainty have been identified, quantified, and shown to be at or below the 0.023mag level in all bands. When all photometry for a given band is combined, we find average magnitude differences of equal to or less than 0.011mag in ugri, with rms scatter ranging from 0.043 to 0.077mag. The u-band agreement is promising, with the caveat that only four of the nine supernovae are well observed in u and these four exhibit an 0.038mag supernova-to-supernova scatter in this filter. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.