PIRSA:15030066 Scientific Series Other

DOI10.48660/15030066

Series: Colloquium

Gould, A. (2015). Microlensing Takes Off: Toward the Galactic Distribution of Planets. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/15030066

Gould, Andrew. Microlensing Takes Off: Toward the Galactic Distribution of Planets. Perimeter Institute, Mar. 11, 2015, https://pirsa.org/15030066 

@misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:15030066,
  doi = {10.48660/15030066},
  url = {https://pirsa.org/15030066},
  author = {Gould, Andrew},
  keywords = {Other},
  language = {en},
  title = {Microlensing Takes Off: Toward the Galactic Distribution of Planets},
  publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
  year = {2015},
  month = {mar},
  note = {PIRSA:15030066 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
}

Abstract

After 50 years of dreaming about it, space-based microlensing observations are now underway.  A 2014 100-hr Spitzer Pilot Program generated "microlens parallaxes" for dozens of lenses, opening the prospect of measuring the Galactic distribution of planets.  This program will be expanded 8-fold in 2015.  Analogous observations by Kepler will measure the mass function of free-floating planets.

WFIRST microlensing observations will, as advertised, "complete the planetary census" but they will do an immense amount of astrophysics as well.  I discuss how microlensing's take off builds on rapid, ongoing, ground-based developments.

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