Using three magnified Type Ia supernovae ( SNe Ia ) detected behind CLASH clusters , we perform a first pilot study to see whether standardizable candles can be used to calibrate cluster mass maps created from strong lensing observations .
Such calibrations will be crucial when next generation HST cluster surveys ( e.g .
FRONTIER ) provide magnification maps that will , in turn , form the basis for the exploration of the high redshift Universe .
We classify SNe using combined photometric and spectroscopic observations , finding two of the three to be clearly of type SN Ia and the third probable .
The SNe exhibit significant amplification , up to a factor of 1.7 at \sim 5 \sigma significance ( SN-L2 ) .
We conducted this as a blind study to avoid fine tuning of parameters , finding a mean amplification difference between SNe and the cluster lensing models of 0.09 \pm 0.09 ^ { stat } \pm 0.05 ^ { sys } mag .
This impressive agreement suggests no tension between cluster mass models and high redshift standardized SNe Ia .
However , the measured statistical dispersion of \sigma _ { \mu } = 0.21 mag appeared large compared to the dispersion expected based on statistical uncertainties ( 0.14 ) .
Further work with the supernova and cluster lensing models , post unblinding , reduced the measured dispersion to \sigma _ { \mu } = 0.12 .
An explicit choice should thus be made as to whether SNe are used unblinded to improve the model , or blinded to test the model .
As the lensed SN samples grow larger , this technique will allow improved constraints on assumptions regarding e.g .
the structure of the dark matter halo .