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Dynamics and Origin of Extra-solar Planetary Systems and Microlensing Detection of Extra-solar PlanetsWe compare a space-based microlensing search for planets, with a ground based microlensing search originally proposed by D. Tytler (Beichman, et al. 1996). Perturbations of microlensing light curves when the lens star has a planetary companion are sought by one wide angle survey telescope and an array of three or four followup narrow angle telescopes distributed in longitude that follow events with high precision, high time resolution photometry. Alternative ground based programs are considered briefly. With the four 2 meter telescopes distributed in longitude in the southern hemisphere in the Tytler proposal, observational constraints on a ground-based search for planets during microlensing events toward the center of the galaxy are severe. Probably less than 100 events could be monitored per year with high precision, high time resolution photometry with only about 42% coverage on the average regardless of how many events were discovered by the survey telescope. Statistics for the occurrence and properties for Jupiter-mass planets would be meaningful but relatively meager four years after the program was started, and meaningful statistics for Earth-mass planets would be non existent. In contrast, the 14,500 events in a proposed 4 year space based program (GEST = Galactic Exoplanet Survey Telescope) would yield very sound statistics on the occurrence, masses and separations of Jupiter-mass planets, and significant constraints on similar properties for Earth-mass planets. The significance of the Jupiter statistics would be to establish the frequency of planetary systems like our own, where terrestrial planets could exist inside the orbits of the giants.
Document ID
20030064035
Acquisition Source
Headquarters
Document Type
Contractor or Grantee Report
Authors
Peale, S. J.
(California Univ. Santa Barbara, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-12087
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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