The supernova rate and delay time distribution in the Magellanic Clouds

Understand

We use the supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs) as a supernova (SN) survey, "conducted" over tens of kyr, from which we derive the current SN rate, and the SN delay time distribution (DTD), i.e., the SN rate vs.

• time that would follow a hypothetical brief burst of a star formation.
• In Badenes, Maoz, & Draine (2010) we have compiled a list of 77 SNRs in the MCS, and argued it is a fairly complete record of the SNRs in the Sedov phase of their expansions.
• We recover the DTD by comparing the numbers of SNRs observed in small individual "cells" in these galaxies to the star-formation histories of each cell, as calculated from resolved stellar populations by Harris & Zaritsky.