Computer Science – Graphics
Scientific paper
Jan 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21331005g&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #310.05; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.285
Computer Science
Graphics
Scientific paper
Microlensing is a proven extrasolar planet search method that has yielded the detection of eight exoplanets. Microlensing is sensitive to planets that are generally inaccessible to other methods, and in particular cool planets at or beyond the snowline. Microlensing is also sensitive to extremely low-mass planets, potentially down to the mass of Mars. Finally, microlensing is the only method capable of detecting old, free-floating planets, hypothesized to be a common by-product of planet formation and evolution. The final recommendations of the 2008 Exoplanet Forum Committee on Microlensing echo those made in the Exoplanet Task Force Report, namely: (1) In the next 1-5 years, construct a small aperture (1-2m) wide FOV (2-4 sq. deg) telescope in Southern Africa in order to complete a network of similar telescopes in the southern hemisphere and so allow a next-generation microlensing survey. Such a survey would determine the frequency of planets beyond the snow line, and detect 10 Earth-mass planets if every main-sequence star in the Galactic disk and bulge has such a planet in the range 1.5 - 4 AU. (2) In the next 5-10 years, build and launch a 1-m class wide field-of-view space telescope that can image the central Galactic bulge in the near-IR or optical almost continuously for periods of at least several months at a time, for at least four years. Such a space-based satellite could be realized as an independent, stand-alone exoplanet mission, or a joint exoplanet/dark energy mission. A space-based survey would determine the demographics of planets with mass greater than Mars and separations greater than about >0.5 AU, determine the frequency of free-floating, Earth-mass planets, and determine the frequency of Earth-mass in the outer habitable zone of solar-type stars in the Galactic disk and bulge.
Bennett David P.
Boden Andrew F.
Forum 2008 Microlensing Committee Exoplanet
Gaudi Scott B.
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