Abstract
We present the discovery of a Neptune-mass planet OGLE-2007-BLG-368Lb with a planet-star mass ratio of q = [9.5 +/- 2.1] x 10(-5) via gravitational microlensing. The planetary deviation was detected in real-time thanks to the high cadence of the Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics survey, real-time light-curve monitoring and intensive follow-up observations. A Bayesian analysis returns the stellar mass and distance at M-l = 0.64(-0.26)(+0.21) M-circle dot and D-l = 5.9(-1.4)(+ 0.9) kpc, respectively, so the mass and separation of the planet are M-p = 20(-8)(+7) M-circle plus and a = 3.3(-0.8)(+1.4) AU, respectively. This discovery adds another cold Neptune-mass planet to the planetary sample discovered by microlensing, which now comprises four cold Neptune/super-Earths, five gas giant planets, and another sub-Saturn mass planet whose nature is unclear. The discovery of these 10 cold exoplanets by the microlensing method implies that the mass ratio function of cold exoplanets scales as dN(pl)/d log q alpha q(-0.7+/-0.2) with a 95% confidence level upper limit of n < -0.35 ( where dN(pl)/d log q alpha q(n)). As microlensing is most sensitive to planets beyond the snow-line, this implies that Neptune-mass planets are at least three times more common than Jupiters in this region at the 95% confidence level.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1641-1653 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
| Volume | 710 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 20 Feb 2010 |
Keywords
- gravitational lensing: micro
- planetary systems
- GRAVITATIONAL LENSING EXPERIMENT
- SURFACE BRIGHTNESS RELATIONS
- MICROLENSING OPTICAL DEPTH
- CLUMP ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE
- EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETS
- GALACTIC DARK HALO
- HIGH-MAGNIFICATION
- SUPER-EARTHS
- DWARF STARS
- IMAGE SUBTRACTION
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Dive into the research topics of 'A cold Neptune-mass planet OGLE-2007-BLG-368Lb: Cold Neptunes are common.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
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Astrophysics in St Andrews: Astrophysics in St Andrews / SUPA (Continuan of Rolling Grant - XPP089
Bonnell, I. (PI), Cameron, A. (CoI), Dominik, M. (CoI), Driver, S. (CoI), Greaves, J. (CoI), Horne, K. (CoI), Jardine, M. (CoI), Wood, K. (CoI) & Zhao, H. (CoI)
Science & Technology Facilities Council
1/04/09 → 31/03/12
Project: Standard
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