Detecting z > 2 type IIn supernovae

Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn) dominate the brightest supernova events in observed FUV flux (similar to 1200-2000 angstrom). We show that multiband, multiepoch optical surveys complete to m(r) 27 can detect the FUV emission of similar to 25 z > 2 SNe IIn deg(-2) yr(-1) (rest frame, or similar to 10 SNe IIn deg(-2) yr(-1) observed frame) to 4 sigma using a technique that monitors color-selected galaxies. Moreover, the strength and evolution of the bright emission lines observed in low-redshift SNe IIn imply that the Ly alpha emission features in similar to 70% of z > 2 SNe IIn are above the spectroscopic thresholds of 8 m class telescopes for similar to 2 yr ( rest frame). As a result, existing facilities have the capability to both photometrically detect and spectroscopically confirm z > 2 SNe IIn and pave the way for efficient searches by future 8 m class survey and 30 m class telescopes. The method presented here uses the sensitivities and wide-field capabilities of current optical instruments and exploits ( 1) the efficiency of z > 2 galaxy color selection techniques, ( 2) the intrinsic brightness distribution (< MB > = -19: 0, sigma +/- 0.9) and blue profile of SN IIn continua, (3) the presence of extremely bright, long-lived emission features, and ( 4) the potential to detect blueshifted SN Ly alpha emission shortward of host galaxy Ly alpha features.