HAWK-I infrared supernova search in starburst galaxies
  The use of SN rates to probe explosion scenarios and to trace the cosmic star
formation history received a boost from a number of synoptic surveys. There has
been a recent claim of a mismatch by a factor of two between star formation and
core collapse SN rates, and different explanations have been proposed for this
discrepancy.} We attempted an independent test of the relation between star
formation and supernova rates in the extreme environment of starburst galaxies,
where both star formation and extinction are extremely high. To this aim we
conducted an infrared supernova search in a sample of local starburts galaxies.
The rational to search in the infrared is to reduce the bias due to extinction,
which is one of the putative reasons for the observed discrepancy between star
formation and supernova rates. To evaluate the outcome of the search we
developed a MonteCarlo simulation tool that is used to predict the number and
properties of the expected supernovae based on the search characteristics and
the current understanding of starburst galaxies and supernovae. During the
search we discovered 6 supernovae (4 with spectroscopic classification) which
is in excellent agreement with the prediction of the MonteCarlo simulation tool
that is, on average, $5.3\pm2.3$ events. The number of supernovae detected in
starburst galaxies is consistent with that predicted from their high star
formation rate when we recognize that a major fraction ($\sim 60%$) of the
events remains hidden in the unaccessible, high density nuclear regions because
of a combination of reduced search efficiency and high extinction.
