KMT-2024-BLG-0404L: A triple microlensing system consisting of a star, a brown dwarf, and a planet

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a unique triple microlensing system involving a star, a brown dwarf, and a planet, identified through advanced modeling of complex light curve features.

Contribution

It introduces a novel triple lens model that explains previously unexplained anomalies, revealing a planetary system with a star, a brown dwarf, and a planet.

Findings

Identified a planet orbiting a binary host of a star and a brown dwarf.

Estimated the system's distance at approximately 7.2 kpc in the Galactic bulge.

First microlensing detection of a host system comprising both a star and a brown dwarf.

Abstract

We have investigated the lensing event KMT-2024-BLG-0404. The light curve of the event exhibited a complex structure with multiple distinct features, including two prominent caustic spikes, two cusp bumps, and a brief discontinuous feature between the caustic spikes. While a binary-lens model captured the general anomaly pattern, it could not account for a discontinuous anomaly feature between the two caustic spikes. To explore the origin of the unexplained feature, we conducted more advanced modeling beyond the standard binary-lens framework. This investigation demonstrated that the previously unexplained anomaly was resolved by introducing an additional lens component with planetary mass. The estimated masses of the lens components are $M_{\rm p}= 17.3^{+25.5}_{-8.8}~M_{\rm E}$ for the planet, and $M_{\rm h,A}=0.090^{+0.133}_{-0.046}~M_\odot$ and $M_{\rm h,B}=0.026^{+0.038}_{-0.013}~M_\odot$ for the binary host stars. Based on these mass estimates, the lens system is identified as a planetary system where a Uranus-mass planet orbits a binary consisting of a late M dwarf and a brown dwarf. The distance to the planetary system is estimated to be $D_{\rm L} = 7.21^{+0.93}_{-0.97}$~kpc, with an 82\% probability that it resides in the Galactic bulge. This discovery represents the ninth planetary system found through microlensing with a planet orbiting a binary host. Notably, it is the first case where the host consists of both a star and a brown dwarf.