Supernova Key Project: Swift Response to New Transients

Abstract

This proposal describes a multi-year, Swift Key Project to observe all nearby (d < 35 Mpc) transients (mostly expected to be SNe) with Swift within 24 hour of discovery (even before they are spectroscopically classified). The proposed investigation aims to obtain early UV and X-ray data on 60 transients in a distance-limited sample. This program will acquire a type-blind sample of all nearby SN, which would be useful to search for the early shocks in unbiased samples for both Type Ia (shocked companions) and CC SNe (shock breakouts). For Type Ia SNe, the proposed program would be effective in detecting UV emission from the shocked companion. For CCSN the proposed program would be effective in detecting shock breakout and cooling. These results would be useful for constraining the nature of the SN progenitors and their environments. This program is the first attempt to comprise a complete distance-limited SN sample in UV (for a given 2-yr period).