The Probability of Microlensing Detections of Planetary Systems

Details The Probability of Microlensing Detections of Planetary Systems The Probability of Microlensing Detections of Planetary Systems

Dec 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996aas...189.1908s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, 189th AAS Meeting, #19.08; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 28, p.1300

Mathematics

Probability

Scientific paper

The microlensing monitoring programs have detected lensing by binaries. It would seem to be only a matter of time before planets are also detected. Most calculations of the probability of detecting planets, however, have focused on the case in which a single planet is located at a distance, a ~ R_E, from the central star. In this so-called ``resonant" case, the signature of the planet's presence is a spike in a light curve whose basic shape is governed by the lensing associated with the central star. The spike is typically sharp and short-lived. We point out that it is also possible for the microlensing monitoring programs to find evidence of planets with a > 1.5 R_E. The signal of the planets' presence is a multiply-peaked event. Finite source-size effects are less problematic in this ``wide" orbit case. We compute the probability of the detection of planets in wide orbits. Since it seems likely that most planetary systems contain multiple planets, we explicitly consider systems with N planets, and include orbital inclination and finite orbital velocity effects. We obtain numerical results for different lensing geometries and solar systems by analytic approximations to the resulting nonlinear equations. Finally, we use a Monte Carlo model to generate several sample light curves. We find that, if planets are typically found in planetary systems, then the discovery of planets in wide (as opposed to resonant) orbits seems promising.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Probability of Microlensing Detections of Planetary Systems does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with The Probability of Microlensing Detections of Planetary Systems, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Probability of Microlensing Detections of Planetary Systems will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-815293