A new perspective on cosmology through Supernovae Ia and Gamma Ray Bursts

Abstract

The actual knowledge of the structure and future evolution of our universe is based on the use of cosmological models, which can be tested through the so-called ‘probes’, namely astrophysical phenomena, objects or structures with peculiar properties that can help to discriminate among different cosmological models. Among all the existing probes, of particular importance are the Supernovae Ia (SNe Ia) and the Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs): the former are considered among the best standard candles so far discovered but suffer from the fact that can be observed until redshift $z=2.26$, while the latter are promising standardizable candles which have been observed up to $z=9.4$, surpassing even the farthest quasar known to date, which is at $z=7.64$. The standard candles can be used to test the cosmological models and to give the expected values of cosmological parameters, in particular the Hubble constant value. The Hubble constant is affected by the so-called Hubble constant tension, a discrepancy in more than 4 $\sigma$ between its value measured with local probes and its value measured through the cosmological probes. The increase in the number of observed SNe Ia, as well as the future standardization of GRBs through their correlations, will surely be of help in alleviating the Hubble constant tension and in explaining the structure of the universe at higher redshifts. A promising class of GRBs for future standardization is represented by the GRBs associated with Supernovae Ib/c, since these present features similar to the SNe Ia class and obey a tight correlation between their luminosity at the end of the plateau emission in X-rays and the time at the end of the plateau in the rest-frame.