Context :

Aims : To elucidate the nature of the late-phase emission of the normal type Ia supernova SN 2001el .

Methods : We present optical and near-infrared light curves of SN 2001el from 310 to 445 days past maximum light , obtained with the Very Large Telescope .

Results : The late-time optical ( UBVRI ) light curves decay in a nearly linear fashion with decay time scales of 1.43 \pm 0.14 , 1.43 \pm 0.06 , 1.48 \pm 0.06 , 1.45 \pm 0.07 , and 1.03 \pm 0.07 magnitudes ( per hundred days ) in the U , B , V , R and I bands , respectively .
In contrast , in the near-infrared ( JHK { s } ) bands the time evolution of the flux appears to be nearly constant at these epochs .
We measure decline rates ( per hundred days ) of 0.19 \pm 0.10 and 0.17 \pm 0.11 magnitudes in the J and H bands , respectively .
We construct a UVOIR light curve , and find that the late-time luminosity has a decay time scale nearly consistent with complete depostion of positron kinetic energy .

Conclusions : The late-time light curves of the normal type Ia SN 2001el demonstrate the increased importance of the near-infrared contribution .
This was previously observed in the peculiar SN 2000cx , and the results for SN 2001el thus ensure that the conclusions previously based on a single peculiar event are applicable to normal type Ia supernovae .
The measured late-time UVOIR decline rate suggests that a majority of the positrons are trapped within the ejecta .
This results does not favor the predictions of a weak and/or radially combed magnetic field configuration .