Timing analysis in microlensing

TL;DR

This paper reviews how timing analysis can determine orbital periods of binary lenses and stellar rotation periods in gravitational microlensing events, aiding in understanding these phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces two specific timing analysis methods for gravitational microlensing, one for binary lens orbital periods and another for stellar rotation periods.

Findings

Estimation of binary lens orbital periods from microlensing data.

Measurement of stellar rotation periods via surface signatures.

Breaking degeneracies in microlensing models.

Abstract

Timing analysis is a powerful tool used to determine periodic features of physical phenomena. Here we review two applications of timing analysis to gravitational microlensing events. The first one, in particular cases, allows the estimation of the orbital period of binary lenses, which in turn enables the breaking of degeneracies. The second one is a method to measure the rotation period of the lensed star by observing signatures due to stellar spots on its surface.