T. Yanagisawa

Bio: T. Yanagisawa is an academic researcher from Nagoya University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Gravitational microlensing & Planetary system. The author has an hindex of 12, co-authored 13 publications receiving 1078 citations.

Real-time difference imaging analysis of moa galactic bulge observations during 2000

Abstract: We describe observations carried out by the MOA group of the Galactic bulge during 2000 that were designed to detect efficiently gravitational microlensing of faint stars in which the magnification is high and/or of short duration. These events are particularly useful for studies of extrasolar planets and faint stars. Approximately 17 deg2 were monitored at a sampling rate of up to six times per night. The images were analysed in real time using a difference imaging technique. 20 microlensing candidates were detected, of which eight were alerted to the microlensing community whilst in progress. Approximately half of the candidates had high magnifications (≳10), at least one had very high magnification (≳50), and one exhibited a clear parallax effect. The details of these events are reported here, together with details of the on-line difference imaging technique. Some nova-like events were also observed and these are described, together with one asteroid.

MACHO Alert 95-30: First Real-Time Observation of Extended Source Effects in Gravitational Microlensing

Abstract: We present analysis of MACHO Alert 95-30, a dramatic gravitational microlensing event toward the Galactic bulge whose peak magnification departs significantly from the standard point-source microlensing model Alert 95-30 was observed in real time by the Global Microlensing Alert Network (GMAN), which obtained densely sampled photometric and spectroscopic data throughout the event We interpret the light-curve fine structure as indicating transit of the lens across the extended face of the source star This signifies resolution of a star several kiloparsecs distant We find a lens angular impact parameter θmin/θsource = 0715 ± 0003 This information, along with the radius and distance of the source, provides an additional constraint on the lensing system Spectroscopic and photometric data indicate the source is a M4 III star of radius 61 ± 12 R☉, located on the far side of the bulge at ~9 kpc We derive a lens angular velocity, relative to the source, of 215 ± 29 km s-1 kpc-1, where the error is dominated by uncertainty in the angular size of the source star Likelihood analysis yields a median lens mass of 067 -->+ 253−046 M☉, located with 80% probability in the Galactic bulge at a distance of 693 -->+ 156−225 kpc If the lens is a main-sequence star, we can include constraints on the lens luminosity This modifies our estimates to Mlens=053 -->+ 052−035 M☉ and Dlens=657 -->+ 099−225 kpc Spectra taken during the event show that the absorption-line equivalent widths of Hα and the TiO bands near 6700 A vary, as predicted for microlensing of an extended source This is most likely due to center-to-limb variation in the stellar spectral lines The observed spectral changes further support our microlensing interpretation These data demonstrate the feasibility of using microlensing limb crossings as a tool to probe stellar atmospheres directly

On Planetary Companions to the MACHO 98-BLG-35 Microlens Star

Abstract: We present observations of the microlensing event MACHO 98-BLG-35, which reached a peak mag- ni—cation factor of almost 80. These observations by the Microlensing Planet Search (MPS) and MOA collaborations place strong constraints on the possible planetary system of the lens star and show intriguing evidence for a low-mass planet with a mass fraction 4 ) 10~5 " v " 2 ) 10~4. A giant planet with v \ 10~3 is excluded from 95% of the region between 0.4 and 2.5 from the lens star, where is R E R E the Einstein ring radius of the lens. This exclusion region is more extensive than the generic ii lensing zone,ˇˇ which is 0.6¨1.6 For smaller mass planets, we can exclude 57% of the ii lensing zone ˇˇ for R E. v \ 10~4 and 14% of the lensing zone for v \ 10~5. The mass fraction v \ 10~5 corresponds to an Earth-mass planet for a lensing star of mass D0.3 A number of similar events will provide sta- M _ . tistically signi—cant constraints on the prevalence of Earth-mass planets. In order to put our limits in more familiar terms, we have compared our results to those expected for a solar system clone, averaging over possible lens system distances and orientations. We —nd that such a system is ruled out at the 90% con—dence level. A copy of the solar system with Jupiter replaced by a second Saturn-mass planet can be ruled out at 70% con—dence. Our low-mass planetary signal (few Earth masses to Neptune mass) is sig- ni—cant at the 4.5 p con—dence level. If this planetary interpretation is correct, the MACHO 98-BLG-35 lens system constitutes the —rst detection of a low-mass planet orbiting an ordinary star without gas giant planets.20 Subject headings: gravitational lensingplanetary systemsstars: low-mass, brown dwarfs

Study by MOA of extrasolar planets in gravitational microlensing events of high magnification

Abstract: A search for extrasolar planets was carried out in three gravitational microlensing events of high magnification, MACHO 98-BLG-35, MACHO 99-LMC-2 and OGLE 00-BUL-12. Photometry was derived from observational images by the MOA and OGLE groups using an image subtraction technique. For MACHO 98-BLG-35, additional photometry derived from the MPS and PLANET groups was included. Planetary modelling of the three events was carried out in a supercluster computing environment. The estimated probability for explaining the data on MACHO 98-BLG-35 without a planet is < 1 per cent. The best planetary model has a planet of mass ∼ (0.4-1.5) X M E a r t h at a projected radius of either ∼ 1.5 or ∼ 2.3 au. We show how multiplanet models can be applied to the data. We calculate exclusion regions for the three events and find that Jupiter-mass planets can be excluded with projected radii from as wide as about 30au to as close as around 0.5 au for MACHO 98-BLG-35 and OGLE 00-BUL-12. For MACHO 99-LMC-2, the exclusion region extends out to around 10 au and constitutes the first limit placed on a planetary companion to an extragalactic star. We derive a particularly high peak magnification of ∼160 for OGLE 00-BUL-12. We discuss the detectability of planets with masses as low as Mercury in this and similar events.

Improving the prospects for detecting extrasolar planets in gravitational microlensing events in 2002

Abstract: Gravitational microlensing events of high magnification have been shown to be promising targets for detecting extrasolar planets. However, only a few events of high magnification have been found using conventional survey techniques. Here we demonstrate that high-magnification events can be readily found in microlensing surveys using a strategy that combines high-frequency sampling of target fields with on-line difference imaging analysis. We present 10 microlensing events with peak magnifications greater than 40 that were detected in real-time towards the Galactic bulge during 2001 by the Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) project. We show that Earth-mass planets can be detected in future events such as these through intensive follow-up observations around the event peaks. We report this result with urgency as a similar number of such events are expected in 2002.

The New Galaxy: Signatures of Its Formation

Abstract: ▪ Abstract The formation and evolution of galaxies is one of the great outstanding problems of astrophysics. Within the broad context of hierachical structure formation, we have only a crude picture of how galaxies like our own came into existence. A detailed physical picture where individual stellar populations can be associated with (tagged to) elements of the protocloud is far beyond our current understanding. Important clues have begun to emerge from both the Galaxy (near-field cosmology) and the high redshift universe (far-field cosmology). Here we focus on the fossil evidence provided by the Galaxy. Detailed studies of the Galaxy lie at the core of understanding the complex processes involved in baryon dissipation. This is a necessary first step toward achieving a successful theory of galaxy formation.

Limits on the Macho Content of the Galactic Halo from the EROS-2 Survey of the Magellanic Clouds

Abstract: The EROS-2 project was designed to test the hypothesis that massive compact halo objects (the so-called ''machos'') could be a major component of the dark matter halo of the Milky Way galaxy. To this end, EROS-2 monitored millions of stars in the Magellanic clouds for microlensing events caused by such objects. (abridged)

One or more bound planets per Milky Way star from microlensing observations

Abstract: Most known extrasolar planets (exoplanets) have been discovered using the radial velocity or transit methods. Both are biased towards planets that are relatively close to their parent stars, and studies find that around 17–30% of solar-like stars host a planet. Gravitational microlensing on the other hand, probes planets that are further away from their stars. Recently, a population of planets that are unbound or very far from their stars was discovered by microlensing. These planets are at least as numerous as the stars in the Milky Way. Here we report a statistical analysis of microlensing data (gathered in 2002–07) that reveals the fraction of bound planets 0.5–10 au (Sun–Earth distance) from their stars. We find that 17^(+16)_(-9)% of stars host Jupiter-mass planets (0.3–10 M_J, where M_J = 318 M_⊕ plus and M_⊕ plus is Earth’s mass). Cool Neptunes (10–30 M_⊕ plus) and super-Earths (5–10 M_⊕ plus) are even more common: their respective abundances per star are 52^(+22)_(-29)% and 62^(+35)_(-73)% . We conclude that stars are orbited by planets as a rule, rather than the exception.

Unbound or distant planetary mass population detected by gravitational microlensing

Abstract: Gravitational microlensing observations in the direction of the Galactic Bulge have come up with a surprising result: the discovery of ten previously unknown extrasolar planets that are not bound to host stars. These seemingly free-ranging Jupiter-mass objects could be in very distant orbits around host stars, but no hosts could be detected within a distance of 10 astronomical units from the free-floating planets. It seems possible, therefore, that planet scattering is a routine part of the planet formation process.

The Exoplanet Handbook

Abstract: 1. Introduction 2. Radial velocities 3. Astrometry 4. Timing 5. Microlensing 6. Transits 7. Imaging 8. Host stars 9. Brown dwarfs and free-floating planets 10. Formation and evolution 11. Interiors and atmospheres 12. The Solar System Appendixes References Index.