Improving bayesian posterior correlation analysis on type Ia supernova luminosity evolution

ABSTRACT Much of the cosmological utility thus far extracted from Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) relies on assumption that SN peak luminosities do not evolve significantly with age (local or global) their stellar environments. Two recent studies have provided conflicting results in evaluating validity this assumption, one finding no correlation between Hubble residuals (HR) and environment age, while other claims a significant correlation. In Letter we perform an independent reanalysis rectifies issues statistical methods employed by both aforementioned studies. Our analysis follows principled approach properly accounts for regression dilution critically (and unlike prior studies) utilizes Bayesian-model-produced estimates (posterior samples) instead point estimates. Moreover, posterior is used as informative regression. We find Pearson HR local (global) to be excess 4σ (3σ). Assuming there exists linear relationship corresponding slope −0.035 ± 0.007 mag Gyr−1 (−0.036 Gyr−1). encourage further use our examine host correlations, well experiments correcting luminosity evolution standardization.