ST ScI Preprint #1359a

Supernovae at High Redshifts: Observations and Rates

We review the exciting new results for the values of the cosmological constants derived using high-redshift SNe Ia. Preliminary results suggest a non-empty inflationary Universe with parameters lying along the line 0.8_M - 0.6 = -0.2 ± 0.1.

We also consider the problem of SN rates at high redshifts and their link to cosmological galaxy evolution. Recent estimates of the global history of star formation were used by Madau, Della Valle & Panagia (1998) to compute the theoretical Type Ia and Type II SN rates as a function of cosmic time from the present epoch to high redshifts. They show that accurate measurements of the frequency of SN events already in the range 0z1, and even more so at higher redshifts, will be valuable probes of the nature of Type Ia progenitors and the evolution of the stellar birthrate in the universe.