Computer Science
Scientific paper
May 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007sptz.prop40125g&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #40125
Computer Science
Scientific paper
The outstanding question in the interpretation of microlensing events observed toward the Magellanic Clouds (MC) is the location and nature of the lens population. Because Earth-based photometric observations are ambiguous in inferring the lens distance, existing MC survey events can be explained by lenses in the Galactic halo, the Galactic disk, the clouds themselves, or a combination of all three. By virtue of its orbit, Spitzer offers a literally unique perspective on MC microlensing events. Here we propose to continue our program of target-of-opportunity Spitzer/IRAC photometric observations of MC microlensing events detected in an ongoing ground-based survey, and to combine the Spitzer and ground-based datasets to unambiguously determine the lens 'microlens parallax', which strongly constrains the host population of individual lenses. The first such Spitzer observations constrained OGLE-2005-SMC-001 to lie in the Galactic halo at 95% conficence. A handful of additional determinations will unambiguously settle the lens location controversy and associated uncertainty in interpreting MC microlensing surveys,and allow the determination of whether the putative halo lenses comprise a significant component of Galactic dark matter.
Bennett David
Boden Andrew
Dong Subo
Gould Andrew
Griest Kim
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