Exoplanet Detection with Microlensing

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential of microlensing as a method for detecting and measuring masses of distant, low-mass exoplanets beyond the snowline, emphasizing its importance for upcoming space missions.

Contribution

It highlights the significance of microlensing for discovering wide-orbit exoplanets and outlines the goals of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope for this purpose.

Findings

Microlensing can detect solar system analog exoplanets beyond the snowline.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aims to discover and measure over 1000 such exoplanets.

Microlensing addresses the current gap in exoplanet discovery beyond hot planets.

Abstract

Microlensing is the method of exoplanet detection that discovers solar system analog exoplanets. These are planets low in mass located in wide orbits around their host stars. Even though thousands of exoplanets are discovered, they are mostly hot planets close to their hosts. There is a dearth of exoplanets discovered beyond the snowline where exoplanets are thought to be formed. This was recognized as a very important science issue; 2010 decadal survey declared detecting exoplanets with microlensing and measuring their masses as one of the three main science goals of NASA's next flagship mission, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled to launch in late 2026, no later than May 2027. It will observe 6 seasons of galactic bulge to discover and measure masses of 1000+ such wide orbit low mass solar system analog planets.