Photometric Characterization and Statistical Classification of Supernova Light Curves

This research paper presents a detailed photometric analysis and statistical classification of supernova light curves using observational data from the Open Supernova Catalog and the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). The study examines key light curve parameters-peak luminosity, rise time, and decay rate-to distinguish between different supernova types: Type Ia, Ib/c, and II (including subtypes IIP and IIL). The analysis confirms the remarkable uniformity of Type Ia supernovae, reinforcing their reliability as standard candles for measuring cosmic distances. In contrast, core-collapse supernovae (Types Ib/c and II) display significant diversity in light curve shapes, reflecting variations in progenitor star properties, envelope mass, and explosion dynamics. Statistical plots, including rise time versus decay rate and peak magnitude distributions, illustrate these differences and provide insights into the underlying physics of stellar explosions. The paper demonstrates that photometric light curve analysis can serve as a powerful tool for both supernova classification and physical interpretation, offering a scalable method for analyzing the growing volume of time-domain survey data in the era of large-scale projects like LSST.