Limits on compact halo objects as dark matter from gravitational microlensing

TL;DR

This paper reviews the use of gravitational microlensing to constrain the nature of dark matter, highlighting its applications in detecting planets and setting limits on compact halo objects as dark matter candidates.

Contribution

It summarizes key results from microlensing studies, emphasizing constraints on dark matter and advances in exoplanet detection since 1986.

Findings

Microlensing constrains the abundance of compact halo objects as dark matter.

Microlensing has successfully detected exoplanets within our galaxy.

The method has expanded to observing targets like the Large Magellanic Cloud and M31.

Abstract

Microlensing started with the seminal paper by Paczy\'nski in 1986, first with observations towards the Large Magellanic Cloud and the galactic bulge. Since then many other targets have been observed and new applications have been found. In particular, it turned out to be a powerful method to detect planets in our galaxy and even in the nearby M31. Here, we will present some results obtained so far by microlensing without being, however, exhaustive.