U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Gravitational Microlensing in Unresolved Star Fields and a New Probe of the Dark Matter in External Galaxies

这项为期三年的美法天文学合作研究奖涉及哥伦比亚大学的Arlin P.Crotts和法国巴黎法兰西学院的Jean Kaplan。他们的研究目标是调查仙女座星系(M31)中恒星的引力微透镜。微透镜技术是天文学家用来观测暗物质的一种技术。它还用于行星搜索和探测银河系的结构。研究人员将对M31中的本征变星进行观测，并监测恒星场。这项合作利用了法国小组进行的平行调查，将使两个小组能够解决各自数据集中的天气和时间表差距。VATT(梵蒂冈先进技术望远镜)和Pic du Midi天文台的观测将提供更好和持续的覆盖。

This three-year award for U.S.-France cooperative research in astronomy involves Arlin P. Crotts of Columbia University and Jean Kaplan of the College de France, Paris, France. The objective of their research is to survey gravitational microlensing of stars in the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). Microlensing is a technique used by astronomers in their effort to observe dark matter. It is also used for planet searches and for probing the structure of the milky way. The investigators will survey intrinsically variable stars and monitor star fields in M31. The collaboration takes advantage of parallel investigations conducted by the French group and will allow both groups to address weather and scheduling gaps in their respective data sets. Observations at the VATT (Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope) and at the Pic du Midi Observatory will provide for better and continuous coverage.