Super-massive planets around late-type stars - the case of OGLE-2012-BLG-0406Lb

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a super-Jupiter orbiting a low-mass star at a distance beyond the snow line, challenging existing planetary formation theories.

Contribution

It presents a new microlensing discovery of a super-massive planet around a late-type star beyond the snow line, questioning core accretion predictions.

Findings

Discovered a 3.9 M_Jup planet around a 0.59 M_Sun star.

Planet's orbit is significantly beyond the snow line.

Challenges existing core accretion models.

Abstract

The core accretion theory of planetary formation does not predict that super-Jupiters will form beyond the snow line of a low mass stars. We present a discovery of 3.9 +- 1.2 M_Jup mass planet orbiting the 0.59 +- 0.17 M_Sun star using the gravitational microlensing method. During the event, the projected separation of the planet and the star is 3.9 +- 1.0 AU i.e., the planet is significantly further from the host star than the snow line. This is a fourth such planet discovered using the microlensing technique and challenges the core accretion theory.