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Neglect radiation in cosmology and take pressureless matter plus a separately conserved dark energy component with $p_{\mathrm{DE}}=w{\rho }_{\mathrm{DE}}{c}^2$, where $\rho$ here denotes mass-equivalent energy density. The Friedmann acceleration equation givesThus $w<-1/3$ for a positive-density component is necessary for that component to accelerate expansion, but the total must also overcome pressureless matter. For a cosmological constant, $w=-1$ and $q_0={\Omega }_{m,0}/2-{\Omega }_{\Lambda ,0}$, so acceleration requires ${\Omega }_{\Lambda ,0}>{\Omega }_{m,0}/2$. Spatial curvature of an FLRW universe enters the distance relation but has no separate term in this acceleration criterion. A Hubble diagram alone does not identify a microscopic dark energy mechanism.

A Hubble diagram plots a distance indicator, such as standardized supernova apparent magnitude or distance modulus, against redshift. The low-redshift relation sets a distance-scale intercept, while curvature of the relation at larger redshift tests the expansion history through luminosity distance. A common unknown absolute magnitude remains degenerate with the Hubble constant; the diagram's redshift-dependent shape can still constrain other cosmological parameters.

Type Ia supernovae are standardizable candles. Multi-epoch photometry measures peak brightness, light-curve shape and color; spectroscopy identifies the supernova type and supplies a redshift, preferably also using the host. Correcting the empirical width–luminosity relation and attenuation reduces the spread of absolute magnitudes. A nearby sample fixes a distance-ladder intercept, while distant events test the shape of the Hubble diagram. The observable relation isAn unknown common $M$ remains degenerate with the Hubble-constant intercept unless externally calibrated; relative distance-versus-redshift shape can still constrain acceleration.

For a cosmological spacetime described by an FLRW metric, the deceleration parameter is $q=-a\ddot{a}/{\dot{a}}^2$, and the low-redshift luminosity-distance expansion isA range of redshifts therefore tests the expansion history beyond the leading linear Hubble law. Within conventional matter-plus-cosmological-constant models, standardized distant supernovae fainter than a specified decelerating prediction imply larger luminosity distances and can favor $q_0<0$. For late-time matter and a cosmological constant, $q_0={\Omega }_{m,0}/2-{\Omega }_{\Lambda ,0}$. A flat $(0.3,0.7)$ example has $q_0=-0.55$. One brightness residual alone does not establish acceleration across arbitrary expansion histories or arbitrary attenuation models.

The supernova discovery of accelerating expansion combined repeated imaging, difference-image candidate searches, spectroscopic classification and calibrated light curves. In the High-Z survey, CCD discovery images and later host images separated transient light from its host; point-spread-function fitting and artificial-star recovery tests checked the photometry. The measurements require K corrections between received and emitted passbands and account for the observed $(1+z)$ stretching of light-curve times.^[ref]

Relevant systematic tests include dust and color laws, possible population evolution, flux-limited selection, calibration across filters and telescopes, gravitational lensing and host contamination. An accelerating interpretation is assessed by fitting a specified cosmological family and its nuisance parameters, checking those effects and comparing independent observations. The two principal discovery teams provided independent distant-supernova analyses, including the 42-event Supernova Cosmology Project result.^[ref]

Type Ia supernovae are standardizable candles. Repeated multiband photometry measures peak apparent magnitude, light-curve width and colour; spectra identify the supernova class and determine redshift, often from the host galaxy. Nearby objects calibrate the relation between light-curve shape, colour and absolute luminosity. Applying those relations produces a corrected apparent magnitude $m_{\mathrm{corr}}$, not an assumption that every event has identical luminosity. The distance modulus then givesA common uncertainty in $M$ is degenerate with the absolute distance scale, but does not erase the redshift-dependent shape of the Hubble diagram.

luminosity distance probes the expansion history. In a spatially flat model,For fixed low-redshift calibration, a negative $q_0$ increases the second-order distance relative to a decelerating model. Objects at a given redshift are therefore fainter. A Hubble diagram spanning enough redshift can distinguish this curvature from the common magnitude intercept. In matter-plus-cosmological-constant models, $q_0={\Omega }_m/2-{\Omega }_{\Lambda }$; fitting the distances can test whether $q_0<0$. The two original supernova teams found distances supporting an accelerating expansion in that framework.^[ref][ref]

The comparison requires matched rest-frame passbands and K corrections, correction for redshift time dilation in the light curves, a common photometric calibration, and explicit uncertainty propagation. Dust extinction can imitate dimming; multicolour and infrared observations test reddening and the adopted extinction law. Evolution in the progenitor population or host-galaxy dependence can alter standardization, so one compares matched populations and fits host-dependent terms where warranted. Flux-limited discovery introduces Malmquist bias and other selection effects, which must be modelled through the survey detection efficiency. peculiar velocities matter at low redshift, while gravitational lensing and intrinsic scatter broaden the distant sample. Classification and outlier tests reduce contamination by other transient types.

Independent data reductions, nearby anchors, spectroscopic checks and a fit over the full redshift range distinguish an expansion-history signal from one instrumental offset. Complementary cosmological observations help separate matter density, curvature and dark-energy parameters. The acceleration inference comes from the relative distance-redshift relation, conditional on standardization and an expansion model. Distant supernovae integrate the past expansion history; they do not directly measure the instantaneous second time derivative of today's scale factor without such modelling.

A Type Ia supernova can be standardized as a standard candle by correcting its peak brightness using the light curve shape and colour index. Its host spectrum gives the redshift; the corrected apparent magnitude and calibrated absolute magnitude give the distance modulusThe resulting Hubble diagram measures the shape of the luminosity distance as a function of redshift. A spatially flat matter-and-vacuum model, for example, predictsNonzero cosmological spatial curvature changes both the expansion rate and the conversion from radial to transverse comoving distance. Comparing the observed Hubble diagram with these predictions constrains the matter density parameter, cosmological constant and cosmological spatial curvature; a single low-redshift observation cannot separate them. The nearby sample calibrates the common intercept, while distant Type Ia supernovae supply the redshift-dependent shape. Relative faintness at a specified redshift means a greater inferred luminosity distance.

Type Ia supernova cosmology requires correction for interstellar extinction, possible evolution of the standardized luminosity, and selection bias. The absolute magnitude–Hubble constant degeneracy means that an uncalibrated sample constrains the shape rather than independently determining $H_0$.

Type Ia supernovae have similar peak luminosities that can be standardized using their light-curve width and color, rather than assumed to be identical without correction. Their redshifts and corrected apparent magnitudes give a distance modulus,Compare this Hubble diagram with the luminosity-distance prediction of a background cosmology. Restoring $c$, put $E(z)=H(z)/H_0$, $I(z)={\int }_0^{z}d{z}^{\prime }/E(z^{\prime })$ and define ${\mathcal{S}}_{{\Omega }_k}(I)$ as $\sinh (\sqrt{{\Omega }_k}I)/\sqrt{{\Omega }_k}$ for ${\Omega }_k>0$, $I$ for ${\Omega }_k=0$, and $\sin (\sqrt{-{\Omega }_k}I)/\sqrt{-{\Omega }_k}$ for ${\Omega }_k<0$. ThenNeglecting radiation at these redshifts, Friedmann equations and a separately conserved dark energy component with $w(z)=p/(\rho c^2)$ giveFor constant $w$, the last factor is $(1+z{)}^{3(1+w)}$; a cosmological constant has $w=-1$. Thus the redshift dependence of the measured distance constrains matter density, curvature and the dark-energy equation of state. At small redshift, $d_L=(cz/H_0)[1+(1-q_0)z/2+\cdots ]$, showing how departures from the linear Hubble law probe the deceleration parameter.

The early distant-supernova analyses found larger distances than matter-only decelerating models predicted, providing evidence for accelerated expansion; see the 1998 supernova analysis and the 1999 independent supernova analysis. This is a statement about the distance-redshift curve under the standardization and cosmological assumptions, not a direct measurement of a fluid pressure.

The absolute magnitude–Hubble constant degeneracy means uncalibrated supernovae constrain the shape of $d_L(z)$ without separately determining $H_0$ and the common absolute luminosity. The integral over $H(z)$ also makes different matter, curvature and $w(z)$ histories partly degenerate. Wide redshift coverage and independent cosmic microwave background and large-scale structure of the universe information help break these degeneracies. Dust extinction, source evolution, photometric calibration, sample selection and K corrections must be modeled, and constraints on a time-dependent equation of state depend on how that function is parameterized. Standardized supernovae test the expansion history; they do not by themselves uniquely determine every cosmological parameter.

The Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker metric describes homogeneous, isotropic spatial slices. Here $t$ is cosmic time, equal to the proper time of a comoving observer; $R(t)$ is the length-valued scale factor; and $\chi ,\theta ,\varphi$ are dimensionless comoving radial, polar and azimuthal coordinates. The speed of light is $c$, andfor positive, zero and negative cosmological spatial curvature. The convention used makes $d{s}^2$ a squared time interval, with signature $(+---)$; multiplying the metric by $c^2$ gives the more usual squared-length convention. At fixed $t$, radial proper length is $R(t)d\chi$, while a sphere has area $4\pi R^2(t)S^2(\chi )$.

luminosity distance is defined by $F=L/(4\pi d_L^2)$ for bolometric radiative flux $F$ and intrinsic luminosity $L$. Radial null propagation gives $d\chi =\pm cdt/R(t)$. Applying the same path integral to two successive wave crests gives $\Delta t_0/R_0=\Delta t_e/R_e$, hence $1+z=R_0/R_e$. Each photon loses an energy factor $1+z$, and their arrival rate loses another. For transparent propagation and isotropic emission,The two redshift factors have distinct physical origins; geometrical dilution alone is insufficient.

With $H=\dot{R}/R$, differentiating $1+z=R_0/R$ yields $dt/dz=-[(1+z)H(z){]}^{-1}$. Therefore the radial comoving coordinate isThis is independent of any particular matter model; the transverse comoving distance is $R_{0}S(\chi )$, which equals $R_0\chi$ only for flat space.

For pressureless matter, the continuity equation ${\dot{\rho }}_m+3H{\rho }_m=0$ integrates to ${\rho }_m={\rho }_{m0}(R_0/R{)}^3={\rho }_{m0}(1+z{)}^3$. The cosmological constant is kept separately from this matter density. In the flat Friedmann equation, defineThe flat dust-vacuum Hubble parameter is thereforeIn the equation's convention ${\rho }_m$ is mass-equivalent energy density and $\Lambda$ has units ${\mathrm{s}}^{-2}$; the geometrical cosmological constant convention instead writes $c^2{\Lambda }_{\mathrm{geom}}$. The model contains dust and vacuum energy with negligible radiation over the relevant late epochs: “matter-dominated” here does not require matter to exceed vacuum energy today.

The cosmic microwave background supplies a standard ruler through its acoustic scale: the angular positions of the Cosmic microwave background acoustic peaks constrain cosmological spatial curvature, while their relative heights constrain matter and baryon densities. Together with independent distance information, these favour a nearly flat Lambda-CDM model containing substantial cold dark matter and vacuum energy. The cosmic microwave background alone has a geometrical degeneracy between parameters affecting distance to last scattering; its analysis also includes early radiation, which the late-time formula above omits. The nine-year WMAP results were already available as a December 2012 preprint.^[ref]

A standardized Type Ia supernova at appreciable redshift is fainter, hence farther in luminosity distance, than in a matter-only Einstein-de Sitter universe with the same local expansion scale. Fitting the supernova Hubble diagram supports late acceleration; in flat dust plus vacuum, $q_0={\Omega }_{m0}/2-{\Omega }_{\Lambda 0}$ is negative for ${\Omega }_{\Lambda 0}>1/3$. Light-curve and colour corrections, extinction, calibration, selection bias and possible population evolution must be controlled. The supernova evidence and cosmic microwave background constraints are complementary; together they favour this model without proving that every alternative dark-energy model is impossible.^[ref][ref]

For the final comparison, assume $z>0$, a common $H_0$ and $0<{\Omega }_{\Lambda 0}<1$ in model (a). ThenThus $H_c<H_a<H_b$ and the integrands obey $1/H_b<1/H_a<1/H_c$. Because all three models are flat, compare the normalization-independent distance $R_0\chi =c\int d{z}^{\prime }/H(z^{\prime })$, rather than separately normalized coordinates. The luminosity-distance ordering of flat dust-vacuum universes is $d_{L,b}<d_{L,a}<d_{L,c}$, henceModel (b) gives the largest received flux, model (c) the smallest. Equalities replace the strict ordering at the endpoint values of the vacuum fraction; all have the same leading local Hubble law as $z\to 0$.

The 1998 High-Z Supernova Search Team paper by Adam Riess, Brian Schmidt and collaborators presented supernova evidence for acceleration.^[ref]

The 1999 Supernova Cosmology Project paper by Saul Perlmutter and collaborators independently analysed 42 distant events. Alexei V. Filippenko coauthored both papers.^[ref]

The High-Z Supernova Search Team search used the CTIO Blanco 4-m telescope and a $2048\times 2048$ charge-coupled device, comparing fields across dark runs. Difference images located rising candidates; Keck, MMT and ESO spectroscopy classified them and measured host redshifts. Follow-up photometry used filters approximating emitted B and V bands. Calibrated field stars transferred the magnitude zero point; late host images removed galaxy light, point spread function fits measured brightness, and inserted artificial stars tested recovery.^[ref]

The Supernova Cosmology Project likewise discovered rising events with CTIO 4-m charge-coupled device imaging, then followed their light curves with several telescopes. Keck LRIS and ESO spectroscopy supplied classification and redshift, preferably from narrow host lines. Cross-filter K corrections connected received R/I observations to emitted B/V light.^[ref]

Why does fainter mean accelerating? First it means a larger inferred luminosity distance only at fixed standardized luminosity and corrected attenuation. Next it favours acceleration only after a comparison family is specified: an FLRW metric, representative propagation of light, common nearby and distant standardization, and controlled measurement calibration and selection. For the usual general relativity models containing nonnegative pressureless matter, spatial curvature of an FLRW universe and a cosmological constant, the shape of the Hubble diagram constrains ${\Omega }_{m,0},{\Omega }_{\Lambda ,0}$ and thus $q_0={\Omega }_{m,0}/2-{\Omega }_{\Lambda ,0}$. A positive residual relative to one decelerating model rejects that prediction; it does not alone prove $q_0<0$ across arbitrary expansion histories or arbitrary opacity laws.

The essential advance is that a nearby sample fixes an intercept while a range of distant redshifts measures the shape. The two teams supplied independent observations and analysis, although common nearby calibrators and Type Ia supernova physics can produce shared uncertainties. The dark-energy acceleration criterion explains the interpretation within general relativity; the worked supernova distance comparison shows the size and sign of the effect without fitting any survey data.

Type Ia supernova cosmology uses standardized supernova luminosities to measure the shape of the luminosity-distance--redshift relation. In a spatially flat universe,An unknown common absolute luminosity is degenerate with the overall distance scale but does not erase the redshift dependence.

The useful observable is a relative luminosity distance at measured redshift, rather than an object's brightness alone. Spectroscopy supplies $z={\lambda }_{\mathrm{obs}}/{\lambda }_{\mathrm{rest}}-1$; repeated photometry supplies a light curve. A Type Ia supernova is a standardizable candle: a fitted relation between light curve shape and luminosity replaces the incorrect assumption that every explosion has identical peak absolute magnitude. Nearby objects establish the relation and its common intercept; distant objects test its continuation and the shape of the Hubble diagram.