ROME/REA: A Gravitational Microlensing Search for Exoplanets Beyond the Snow Line on a Global Network of Robotic Telescopes. (11th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsapras, Yiannis; Street, R. A.; Hundertmark, M.; Bachelet, E.; Dominik, M.; Bozza, V.; Cassan, A.; Wambsganss, J.; Horne, K.; Mao, S.; Zang, W.; Bramich, D. M.; Saha, A.
• Is Part Of: Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Volume 131:Number 1006(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10-11
• Subjects: Galaxy: bulge -- gravitational lensing: micro -- methods: data analysis -- methods: observational -- planetary systems; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Astronomy; Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1538-3873/ab3b19
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-6280

Abstract

Abstract: Planet population synthesis models predict an abundance of planets with semimajor axes between 1 and 10 au, yet they lie at the edge of the detection limits of most planet finding techniques. Discovering these planets and studying their distribution is critical to understanding the physical processes that drive planet formation. ROME/REA is a gravitational microlensing project whose main science driver is to discover exoplanets in the cold outer regions of planetary systems. To achieve this, it uses a novel approach combining a multiband survey with reactive follow-up observations, exploiting the unique capabilities of the Las Cumbres Observatory global network of robotic telescopes combined with a Target and Observation Manager system. We present the main science objectives and a technical overview of the project, including initial results.