Modeling the microlensing of circumbinary systems

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical model for gravitational microlensing of circumbinary systems, which include two stars and a planet, to generate precise magnification maps and light curves, aiding exoplanet detection.

Contribution

It extends existing binary lens modeling methods to three lens systems, specifically circumbinary systems, providing a new tool for analyzing their microlensing signatures.

Findings

Generated exact magnification maps for circumbinary systems

Explored parameter space of three lens configurations

Enhanced understanding of microlensing signals from circumbinary exoplanets

Abstract

Gravitational microlensing is one of the methods to detect exoplanets; planets outside our solar system. Here we focus on theoretical modeling of three lens systems and in particular circumbinary systems. Circumbinary systems include two stars and a planet and are estimated to make up a sizable portion of all exoplanets. Extending a method developed for binary lenses to the three lens case, we explore the parameter space of circumbinary systems producing exact magnification maps and light curves.