Detection and characterization of exoplanets through gravitational microlensing in the age of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)

• Applicant: Yiannis Tsapras, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Astrophysics and Astronomy
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 446096156

Modern wide-field surveys on telescopes with large apertures are changing astronomy. They will generate millions of new alerts every night, which are impossible to process without resorting to automation. This proposal describes the opportunities opened up by these surveys in the field of gravitational microlensing and the search for, discovery and characterisation of extrasolar planets. We describe how we will use sophisticated automated observing systems relying on microlensing alerts to discover exoplanets, brown dwarfs and stellar remnants. Since microlensing-detected planets are typically located beyond the snow-line, these results will be very important for our understanding of planet formation and evolution. We also describe how the proposed work relates to the long-term scientific goals of large surveys, such as those of the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1992: Exploring the diversity of extrasolar planets
• International Connection: USA
• Co-Investigator: Dr. Markus Hundertmark
• Cooperation Partners: Dr. Etienne Bachelet; Dr. Rachel Street