Microlensing Theory and Planet Detection: Bridge to the Future

该奖项将继续运行微透镜后续网络，以便使用高倍微透镜技术搜索和分析新的系外行星。该联盟使用了许多小到中等口径的宽视场望远镜来进行调查，以及更大的仪器来进行快速的目标跟踪观察。数据分析将用于测量银河系凸起和盘中的相对行星频率，约束三体行星系统模型，并使用新的数学技术和统计分析确定行星的轨道信息。作为调查的一部分，他们还将获得并分析银河系凸起处高度放大的矮星的高分辨率光谱，以测量或限制未进化恒星中的锂丰度。这个项目将利用微透镜技术在探测新行星方面的优势，比如对质量较低、半长轴较高的行星更敏感。这将有助于更好地理解银河系中行星系统的分布。矮矮星光谱至关重要，因为锂是限制恒星演化模型的关键元素。该小组包括来自国际各地的专业和业余天文学家的贡献。对业余天文学家和研究生的科学培训也是该项目的一部分。

This award will continue operation of the Microlensing Follow Up Network in order to search for and analyze new exoplanets using high-magnification microlensing techniques. The consortium makes use of numerous small-to-moderate size aperture wide-field telescopes to conduct the surveys, as well as larger instruments for quick target-of-opportunity follow-up observations. Data analysis will be used to measure relative planet frequency in the Galactic bulge and disk, constrain models of 3-body planetary systems, and determine orbital information of planets using new mathematical techniques and statistical analysis. As part of the survey they will also obtain and analyze high-resolution spectra of highly magnified dwarf stars in the Galactic bulge in order to measure or put limits on lithium abundances in unevolved stars. This project will exploit the advantages that the microlensing technique has over other methods for detecting new planets, such as being more sensitive to planets with lower masses and higher semi-major axes. This will help produce a better understanding of the planetary system distributions in the Galaxy. The dwarf spectra are critical because lithium is a key element in constraining stellar evolution models. The group includes contributions from both professional and amateur astronomers at international locations. Scientific training of the amateur astronomers, and graduate students is also part of the project.