宮﨑 翔太

Abstract Following Shin et al. (2023b), which is a part of the “Systematic KMTNet Planetary Anomaly Search” series (i.e., a search for planets in the 2016 KMTNet prime fields), we conduct a systematic search of the 2016 KMTNet subprime fields using a semi-machine-based algorithm to identify hidden anomalous events missed by the conventional by-eye search. We find four new planets and seven planet candidates that were buried in the KMTNet archive. The new planets are OGLE-2016-BLG-1598Lb, OGLE-2016-BLG-1800Lb, MOA-2016-BLG-526Lb, and KMT-2016-BLG-2321Lb, which show typical properties of microlensing planets, i.e., giant planets orbit M-dwarf host stars beyond their snow lines. For the planet candidates, we find planet/binary or 2L1S/1L2S degeneracies, which are an obstacle to firmly claiming planet detections. By combining the results of Shin et al. (2023b) and this work, we find a total of nine hidden planets, which is about half the number of planets discovered by eye in 2016. With this work, we have met the goal of the systematic search series for 2016, which is to build a complete microlensing planet sample. We also show that our systematic searches significantly contribute to completing the planet sample, especially for planet/host mass ratios smaller than 10⁻³, which were incomplete in previous by-eye searches of the KMTNet archive.

Abstract We present an analysis of microlensing event OGLE-2019-BLG-0825. This event was identified as a planetary candidate by preliminary modeling. We find that significant residuals from the best-fit static binary-lens model exist and a xallarap effect can fit the residuals very well and significantly improves χ² values. On the other hand, by including the xallarap effect in our models, we find that binary-lens parameters such as mass ratio, q, and separation, s, cannot be constrained well. However, we also find that the parameters for the source system such as the orbital period and semimajor axis are consistent between all the models we analyzed. We therefore constrain the properties of the source system better than the properties of the lens system. The source system comprises a G-type main-sequence star orbited by a brown dwarf with a period of P ∼ 5 days. This analysis is the first to demonstrate that the xallarap effect does affect binary-lens parameters in planetary events. It would not be common for the presence or absence of the xallarap effect to affect lens parameters in events with long orbital periods of the source system or events with transits to caustics, but in other cases, such as this event, the xallarap effect can affect binary-lens parameters.

Abstract We report the discoveries of low-mass free-floating planet (FFP) candidates from the analysis of 2006–2014 MOA-II Galactic bulge survey data. In this data set, we found 6111 microlensing candidates and identified a statistical sample consisting of 3535 high-quality single-lens events with Einstein radius crossing times in the range 0.057 < t_E/days < 757, including 13 events that show clear finite-source effects with angular Einstein radii of 0.90 < θ_E/μas < 332.54. Two of the 12 events with t_E < 1 day have significant finite-source effects, and one event, MOA-9y-5919, with t_E = 0.057 ± 0.016 days and θ_E = 0.90 ± 0.14 μas, is the second terrestrial-mass FFP candidate to date. A Bayesian analysis indicates a lens mass of ${0.75}_{-0.46}^{+1.23}$M_⊕ for this event. The low detection efficiency for short-duration events implies a large population of low-mass FFPs. The microlensing detection efficiency for low-mass planet events depends on both the Einstein radius crossing times and the angular Einstein radii, so we have used image-level simulations to determine the detection efficiency dependence on both t_E and θ_E. This allows us to use a Galactic model to simulate the t_E and θ_E distribution of events produced by the known stellar populations and models of the FFP distribution that are fit to the data. Methods like this will be needed for the more precise FFP demographics determinations from Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope data.

Abstract We present the first measurement of the mass function of free-floating planets (FFPs), or very wide orbit planets down to an Earth mass, from the MOA-II microlensing survey in 2006–2014. Six events are likely to be due to planets with Einstein radius crossing times t_E < 0.5 days, and the shortest has t_E = 0.057 ± 0.016 days and an angular Einstein radius of θ_E = 0.90 ± 0.14 μas. We measure the detection efficiency depending on both t_E and θ_E with image-level simulations for the first time. These short events are well modeled by a power-law mass function, ${ { dN } }_{4}/d\mathrm{log}M={({2.18}_{-1.40}^{+0.52})\times (M/8\,{M}_{\oplus })}^{-{\alpha }_{4 } }$ dex⁻¹ star⁻¹ with ${\alpha }_{4}={0.96}_{-0.27}^{+0.47}$ for M/M_⊙ < 0.02. This implies a total of $f={21}_{-13}^{+23}$ FFPs or very wide orbit planets of mass 0.33 < M/M_⊕ < 6660 per star, with a total mass of ${80}_{-47}^{+73}{M}_{\oplus }$ star⁻¹. The number of FFPs is ${19}_{-13}^{+23}$ times the number of planets in wide orbits (beyond the snow line), while the total masses are of the same order. This suggests that the FFPs have been ejected from bound planetary systems that may have had an initial mass function with a power-law index of α ∼ 0.9, which would imply a total mass of ${171}_{-52}^{+80}{M}_{\oplus }$ star⁻¹. This model predicts that Roman Space Telescope will detect ${988}_{-566}^{+1848}$ FFPs with masses down to that of Mars (including ${575}_{-424}^{+1733}$ with 0.1 ≤ M/M_⊕ ≤ 1). The Sumi et al. large Jupiter-mass FFP population is excluded.

In this paper, we describe the optical alignment method for the Prime-focus-Infrared Microlensing Experiment (PRIME) telescope which is a prime-focus near-infrared (NIR) telescope with a wide field of view for the microlensing planet survey toward the Galactic center that is the major task for the PRIME project. There are three steps for the optical alignment: preliminary alignment by a laser tracker, fine alignment by intra- and extra-focal (IFEF) image analysis technique, and complementary and fine alignment by the Hartmann test. We demonstrated that the first two steps work well by the test conducted in the laboratory in Japan. The telescope was installed at the Sutherland Observatory of South African Astronomical Observatory in August, 2022. At the final stage of the installation, we demonstrated that the third method works well and the optical system satisfies the operational requirement.

Abstract We analyze the MOA-2020-BLG-208 gravitational microlensing event and present the discovery and characterization of a new planet, MOA-2020-BLG-208Lb, with an estimated sub-Saturn mass. With a mass ratio $q={3.17}_{-0.26}^{+0.28}\times {10}^{-4}$, the planet lies near the peak of the mass-ratio function derived by the MOA collaboration and near the edge of expected sample sensitivity. For these estimates we provide results using two mass-law priors: one assuming that all stars have an equal planet-hosting probability, and the other assuming that planets are more likely to orbit around more massive stars. In the first scenario, we estimate that the lens system is likely to be a planet of mass ${m}_{\mathrm{planet } }={46}_{-24}^{+42}\,{M}_{\oplus }$ and a host star of mass ${M}_{\mathrm{host } }={0.43}_{-0.23}^{+0.39}\,{M}_{\odot }$, located at a distance ${D}_{L}={7.49}_{-1.13}^{+0.99}\,\mathrm{kpc}$. For the second scenario, we estimate ${m}_{\mathrm{planet } }={69}_{-34}^{+37}\,{M}_{\oplus }$, ${M}_{\mathrm{host } }={0.66}_{-0.32}^{+0.35}\,{M}_{\odot }$, and ${D}_{L}={7.81}_{-0.93}^{+0.93}\,\mathrm{kpc}$. The planet has a projected separation as a fraction of the Einstein ring radius $s={1.3807}_{-0.0018}^{+0.0018}$. As a cool sub-Saturn-mass planet, this planet adds to a growing collection of evidence for revised planetary formation models.

Abstract We present the analysis of three more planets from the KMTNet 2021 microlensing season. KMT-2021-BLG-0119Lb is a ∼6M_Jup planet orbiting an early M dwarf or a K dwarf, KMT-2021-BLG-0192Lb is a ∼2M_Nep planet orbiting an M dwarf, and KMT-2021-BLG-2294Lb is a ∼1.25M_Nep planet orbiting a very-low-mass M dwarf or a brown dwarf. These by-eye planet detections provide an important comparison sample to the sample selected with the AnomalyFinder algorithm, and in particular, KMT-2021-BLG-2294 is a case of a planet detected by eye but not by algorithm. KMT-2021-BLG-2294Lb is part of a population of microlensing planets around very-low-mass host stars that spans the full range of planet masses, in contrast to the planet population at ≲0.1 au, which shows a strong preference for small planets.

Aims. With the aim of finding microlensing binaries containing brown dwarf (BD) companions, we investigate the microlensing survey data collected during the 2016–2018 seasons. Methods. For this purpose, we first modeled lensing events with light curves exhibiting anomaly features that are likely to be produced by binary lenses. We then sorted out BD companion binary-lens events by applying the criterion that the companion-to-primary mass ratio is q ≲ 0.1. With this procedure, we identify six binaries with candidate BD companions: OGLE-2016-BLG-0890L, MOA-2017-BLG-477L, OGLE-2017-BLG-0614L, KMT-2018-BLG-0357L, OGLE-2018-BLG-1489L, and OGLE-2018-BLG-0360L. Results. We estimated the masses of the binary companions by conducting Bayesian analyses using the observables of the individual lensing events. According to the Bayesian estimation of the lens masses, the probabilities for the lens companions of the events OGLE-2016-BLG-0890, OGLE-2017-BLG-0614, OGLE-2018-BLG-1489, and OGLE-2018-BLG-0360 to be in the BD mass regime are very high with P_BD > 80%. For MOA-2017-BLG-477 and KMT-2018-BLG-0357, the probabilities are relatively low with P_BD = 61% and 69%, respectively.

ABSTRACT Follow-up observations of high-magnification gravitational microlensing events can fully exploit their intrinsic sensitivity to detect extrasolar planets, especially those with small mass ratios. To make followup observations more uniform and efficient, we develop a system, HighMagFinder, to automatically alert possible ongoing high-magnification events based on the real-time data from the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). We started a new phase of follow-up observations with the help of HighMagFinder in 2021. Here we report the discovery of two planets in high-magnification microlensing events, KMT-2021-BLG-0171 and KMT-2021-BLG-1689, which were identified by the HighMagFinder. We find that both events suffer the ‘central-resonant’ caustic degeneracy. The planet-host mass-ratio is q ∼ 4.7 × 10−5 or q ∼ 2.2 × 10−5 for KMT-2021-BLG-0171, and q ∼ 2.5 × 10−4 or q ∼ 1.8 × 10−4 for KMT-2021-BLG-1689. Together with two other events, four cases that suffer such degeneracy have been discovered in the 2021 season alone, indicating that the degenerate solutions may have been missed in some previous studies. We also propose a quantitative factor to weight the probability of each solution from the phase space. The resonant interpretations for the two events are disfavoured under this consideration. This factor can be included in future statistical studies to weight degenerate solutions.

Abstract We report the light-curve analysis for the event MOA-2020-BLG-135, which leads to the discovery of a new Neptune-class planet, MOA-2020-BLG-135Lb. With a derived mass ratio of $q={1.52}_{-0.31}^{+0.39}\times {10}^{-4}$ and separation s ≈ 1, the planet lies exactly at the break and likely peak of the exoplanet mass-ratio function derived by the Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) Collaboration. We estimate the properties of the lens system based on a Galactic model and considering two different Bayesian priors: one assuming that all stars have an equal planet-hosting probability and the other that planets are more likely to orbit more-massive stars. With a uniform host mass prior, we predict that the lens system is likely to be a planet of mass ${m}_{\mathrm{planet } }={11.3}_{-6.9}^{+19.2}{M}_{\oplus }$ and a host star of mass ${M}_{\mathrm{host } }={0.23}_{-0.14}^{+0.39}{M}_{\odot }$, located at a distance ${D}_{L}={7.9}_{-1.0}^{+1.0}\ \mathrm{kpc}$. With a prior that holds that planet occurrence scales in proportion to the host-star mass, the estimated lens system properties are ${m}_{\mathrm{planet } }={25}_{-15}^{+22}{M}_{\oplus }$, ${M}_{\mathrm{host } }={0.53}_{-0.32}^{+0.42}{M}_{\odot }$, and ${D}_{L}={8.3}_{-1.0}^{+0.9}\ \mathrm{kpc}$. This planet qualifies for inclusion in the extended MOA-II exoplanet microlens sample.

Abstract We report on the observations, analysis and interpretation of the microlensing event MOA-2019-BLG-008. The observed anomaly in the photometric light curve is best described through a binary lens model. In this model, the source did not cross caustics and no finite-source effects were observed. Therefore, the angular Einstein ring radius θ_E cannot be measured from the light curve alone. However, the large event duration, t_E ∼ 80 days, allows a precise measurement of the microlensing parallax π_E. In addition to the constraints on the angular radius θ_* and the apparent brightness I_s of the source, we employ the Besançon and GalMod galactic models to estimate the physical properties of the lens. We find excellent agreement between the predictions of the two galactic models: the companion is likely a resident of the brown dwarf desert with a mass M_p ∼ 30 M_Jup, and the host is a main-sequence dwarf star. The lens lies along the line of sight to the Galactic bulge, at a distance of ≤4 kpc. We estimate that in about 10 yr the lens and source will be separated by ∼55 mas, and it will be possible to confirm the exact nature of the lensing system by using high-resolution imaging from ground- or space-based observatories.

We complete the analysis of all 2018 prime-field microlensing planets identified by the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) Anomaly Finder. Among the ten previously unpublished events with clear planetary solutions, eight are either unambiguously planetary or are very likely to be planetary in nature: OGLE-2018-BLG-1126, KMT-2018-BLG-2004, OGLE-2018-BLG-1647, OGLE-2018-BLG-1367, OGLE-2018-BLG-1544, OGLE-2018-BLG-0932, OGLE-2018-BLG-1212, and KMT-2018-BLG-2718. Combined with the four previously published new Anomaly Finder events and 12 previously published (or in preparation) planets that were discovered by eye, this makes a total of 24 2018 prime-field planets discovered or recovered by Anomaly Finder. Together with a paper in preparation on 2018 subprime planets, this work lays the basis for the first statistical analysis of the planet mass-ratio function based on planets identified in KMTNet data. By systematically applying the heuristic analysis to each event, we identified the small modification in their formalism that is needed to unify the so-called close-wide and inner-outer degeneracies.

Aims. With the aim of finding short-term planetary signals, we investigated the data collected from current high-cadence microlensing surveys. Methods. From this investigation, we found four planetary systems with low planet-to-host mass ratios, including OGLE-2017-BLG-1691L, KMT-2021-BLG-0320L, KMT-2021-BLG-1303L, and KMT-2021-BLG-1554L. Despite the short durations, ranging from a few hours to a couple of days, the planetary signals were clearly detected by the combined data of the lensing surveys. We found that three of the planetary systems have mass ratios on the order of 10⁻⁴ and the other has a mass ratio that is slightly greater than 10⁻³. Results. The estimated masses indicate that all discovered planets have sub-Jovian masses. The planet masses of KMT-2021-BLG-0320Lb, KMT-2021-BLG-1303Lb, and KMT-2021-BLG-1554Lb correspond to ~0.10, ~0.38, and ~0.12 times the mass of the Jupiter, and the mass of OGLE-2017-BLG-1691Lb corresponds to that of the Uranus. The estimated mass of the planet host KMT-2021-BLG-1554L, M_host ~ 0.08 M_⊙, corresponds to the boundary between a star and a brown dwarf. Besides this system, the host stars of the other planetary systems are low-mass stars with masses in the range of ~[0.3–0.6] M_⊙. The discoveries of the planets fully demonstrate the capability of the current high-cadence microlensing surveys in detecting low-mass planets.

ABSTRACT We report the discovery and analysis of a planet in the microlensing event OGLE-2018-BLG-0799. The planetary signal was observed by several ground-based telescopes, and the planet-host mass ratio is q = (2.65 ± 0.16) × 10−3. The ground-based observations yield a constraint on the angular Einstein radius θE, and the microlensing parallax vector $\boldsymbol{ { \pi} }_{\rm E}$, is strongly constrained by the Spitzer data. However, the 2019 Spitzer baseline data reveal systematics in the Spitzer photometry, so there is ambiguity in the magnitude of the parallax. In our preferred interpretation, a full Bayesian analysis using a Galactic model indicates that the planetary system is composed of an $M_{\rm planet} = 0.26_{-0.11}^{+0.22}M_{\rm J}$ planet orbiting an $M_{\rm host} = 0.093_{-0.038}^{+0.082}~\mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, at a distance of $D_{\rm L} = 3.71_{-1.70}^{+3.24}$ kpc. An alternate interpretation of the data shifts the localization of the minima along the arc-shaped microlens parallax constraints. This, in turn, yields a more massive host with median mass of $0.13 {\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot } }$ at a distance of 6.3 kpc. This analysis demonstrates the robustness of the osculating circles formalism, but shows that further investigation is needed to assess how systematics affect the specific localization of the microlens parallax vector and, consequently, the inferred physical parameters.

Abstract We present the analysis of five black hole candidates identified from gravitational microlensing surveys. Hubble Space Telescope astrometric data and densely sampled light curves from ground-based microlensing surveys are fit with a single-source, single-lens microlensing model in order to measure the mass and luminosity of each lens and determine if it is a black hole. One of the five targets (OGLE-2011-BLG-0462/MOA-2011-BLG-191 or OB110462 for short) shows a significant >1 mas coherent astrometric shift, little to no lens flux, and has an inferred lens mass of 1.6–4.4 M_⊙. This makes OB110462 the first definitive discovery of a compact object through astrometric microlensing and it is most likely either a neutron star or a low-mass black hole. This compact-object lens is relatively nearby (0.70–1.92 kpc) and has a slow transverse motion of <30 km s⁻¹. OB110462 shows significant tension between models well fit to photometry versus astrometry, making it currently difficult to distinguish between a neutron star and a black hole. Additional observations and modeling with more complex system geometries, such as binary sources, are needed to resolve the puzzling nature of this object. For the remaining four candidates, the lens masses are <2M_⊙, and they are unlikely to be black holes; two of the four are likely white dwarfs or neutron stars. We compare the full sample of five candidates to theoretical expectations on the number of black holes in the Milky Way (∼10⁸) and find reasonable agreement given the small sample size.

Context. Brown dwarfs are transition objects between stars and planets that are still poorly understood, for which several competing mechanisms have been proposed to describe their formation. Mass measurements are generally difficult to carry out for isolated objects as well as for brown dwarfs orbiting low-mass stars, which are often too faint for a spectroscopic follow-up. Aims. Microlensing provides an alternative tool for the discovery and investigation of such faint systems. Here, we present an analysis of the microlensing event OGLE-2019-BLG-0033/MOA-2019-BLG-035, which is caused by a binary system composed of a brown dwarf orbiting a red dwarf. Methods. Thanks to extensive ground observations and the availability of space observations from Spitzer, it has been possible to obtain accurate estimates of all microlensing parameters, including the parallax, source radius, and orbital motion of the binary lens. Results. Following an accurate modeling process, we found that the lens is composed of a red dwarf with a mass of M₁ = 0.149 ± 0.010 M_⊙ and a brown dwarf with a mass of M₂ = 0.0463 ± 0.0031 M_⊙ at a projected separation of a_⊥ = 0.585 au. The system has a peculiar velocity that is typical of old metal-poor populations in the thick disk. A percent-level precision in the mass measurement of brown dwarfs has been achieved only in a few microlensing events up to now, but will likely become more common in the future thanks to the Roman space telescope.

Abstract OGLE-2016-BLG-1093 is a planetary microlensing event that is part of the statistical Spitzer microlens parallax sample. The precise measurement of the microlens parallax effect for this event, combined with the measurement of finite-source effects, leads to a direct measurement of the lens masses and system distance, M_host =0.38–0.57 M_⊙ and m_p = 0.59–0.87 M_Jup, and the system is located at the Galactic bulge (D_L ∼ 8.1 kpc). Because this was a high-magnification event, we are also able to empirically show that the “cheap-space parallax” concept produces well-constrained (and consistent) results for ∣π_E∣. This demonstrates that this concept can be extended to many two-body lenses. Finally, we briefly explore systematics in the Spitzer light curve in this event and show that their potential impact is strongly mitigated by the color constraint.

Aims. The high-magnification microlensing event KMT-2021-BLG-1077 exhibits a subtle and complex anomaly pattern in the region around the peak. We analyze the lensing light curve of the event with the aim of revealing the nature of the anomaly. Methods. We test various models in combination with several interpretations: that the lens is a binary (2L1S), the source is a binary (1L2S), both the lens and source are binaries (2L2S), or the lens is a triple system (3L1S). We search for the best-fit models under the individual interpretations of the lens and source systems. Results. We find that the anomaly cannot be explained by the usual three-body (2L1S and 1L2S) models. The 2L2S model improves the fit compared to the three-body models, but it still leaves noticeable residuals. On the other hand, the 3L1S interpretation yields a model explaining all the major anomalous features in the lensing light curve. According to the 3L1S interpretation, the estimated mass ratios of the lens companions to the primary are ~1.56 × 10⁻³ and ~1.75 × 10⁻³, which correspond to ~1.6 and ~1.8 times the Jupiter/Sun mass ratio, respectively, and therefore the lens is a multiplanetary system containing two giant planets. With the constraints of the event time-scale and angular Einstein radius, it is found that the host of the lens system is a low-mass star of mid-to-late M spectral type with amass of M_h = 0.14_−0.07^+0.19M_Θ, and it hosts two gas giant planets with masses of M_p1 = 0.22_−0.12^+0.31M_J and M_p2 = 0.25_−0.13^+0.35. The planets lie beyond the snow line of the host with projected separations of a_⊥,p1 = 1.26_−1.08^+1.41 AU and a_⊥,p2 = 0.93_−0.80^+1.05 AU. The planetary system resides in the Galactic bulge at a distance of D_L = 8.24_−1.16^+1.02 kpc. The lens of the event is the fifth confirmed multiplanetary system detected by microlensing following OGLE-2006-BLG-109L, OGLE-2012-BLG-0026L, OGLE-2018-BLG-1011L, and OGLE-2019-BLG-0468L.

Abstract We report the discovery of a sub-Jovian-mass planet, OGLE-2014-BLG-0319Lb. The characteristics of this planet will be added into a future extended statistical analysis of the Microlensing Observations in Astrophysics (MOA) collaboration. The planetary anomaly of the light curve is characterized by MOA and OGLE survey observations and results in three degenerate models with different planetary-mass ratios of q = (10.3, 6.6, 4.5) × 10⁻⁴. We find that the last two models require unreasonably small lens-source relative proper motions of μ_rel ∼ 1 mas yr⁻¹. Considering Galactic prior probabilities, we rule out these two models from the final result. We conduct a Bayesian analysis to estimate physical properties of the lens system using a Galactic model and find that the lens system is composed of a ${0.49}_{-0.27}^{+0.35}\ {M}_{\mathrm{Jup } }$ sub-Jovian planet orbiting a ${0.47}_{-0.25}^{+0.33}\ {M}_{\odot }$ M dwarf near the Galactic Bulge. This analysis demonstrates that Galactic priors are useful to resolve this type of model degeneracy. This is important for estimating the mass-ratio function statistically. However, this method would be unlikely successful in shorter timescale events, which are mostly due to low-mass objects, like brown dwarfs or free-floating planets. Therefore, careful treatment is needed for estimating the mass-ratio function of the companions around such low-mass hosts, which only the microlensing can probe.

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>We apply the automated AnomalyFinder algorithm of Paper I to 2018–2019 light curves from the ≃13 deg<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> covered by the six KMTNet prime fields, with cadences Γ ≥ 2 hr<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>. We find a total of 11 planets with mass ratios <jats:italic>q</jats:italic> < 2 × 10<jats:sup>−4</jats:sup>, including 6 newly discovered planets, 1 planet that was reported in Paper I, and recovery of 4 previously discovered planets. One of the new planets, OGLE-2018-BLG-0977Lb, is in a planetary caustic event, while the other five (OGLE-2018-BLG-0506Lb, OGLE-2018-BLG-0516Lb, OGLE-2019-BLG-1492Lb, KMT-2019-BLG-0253, and KMT-2019-BLG-0953) are revealed by a “dip” in the light curve as the source crosses the host-planet axis on the opposite side of the planet. These subtle signals were missed in previous by-eye searches. The planet-host separations (scaled to the Einstein radius), <jats:italic>s</jats:italic>, and planet-host mass ratios, <jats:italic>q</jats:italic>, are, respectively, (<jats:italic>s</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>q</jats:italic> × 10<jats:sup>5</jats:sup>) = (0.88, 4.1), (0.96 ± 0.10, 8.3), (0.94 ± 0.07, 13), (0.97 ± 0.07, 18), (0.97 ± 0.04, 4.1), and (0.74, 18), where the “ ± ” indicates a discrete degeneracy. The 11 planets are spread out over the range <jats:inline-formula> <jats:tex-math> <?CDATA $-5\lt \mathrm{log}q\lt -3.7$?> </jats:tex-math> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> <mml:mn>5</mml:mn> <mml:mo><</mml:mo> <mml:mi>log</mml:mi> <mml:mi>q</mml:mi> <mml:mo><</mml:mo> <mml:mo>−</mml:mo> <mml:mn>3.7</mml:mn> </mml:math> <jats:inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="ajac38adieqn1.gif" xlink:type="simple" /> </jats:inline-formula>. Together with the two planets previously reported with <jats:italic>q</jats:italic> ∼ 10<jats:sup>−5</jats:sup> from the 2018–2019 nonprime KMT fields, this result suggests that planets toward the bottom of this mass-ratio range may be more common than previously believed.</jats:p>

<jats:p><jats:italic>Aims.</jats:italic> The light curve of the microlensing event KMT-2021-BLG-0912 exhibits a very short anomaly relative to a single-lens single-source form. We investigate the light curve for the purpose of identifying the origin of the anomaly.</jats:p> <jats:p><jats:italic>Methods.</jats:italic> We model the light curve under various interpretations. From this, we find four solutions, in which three solutions are found underthe assumption that the lens is composed of two masses (2L1S models), and the other solution is found under the assumption that the source is comprised of binary stars (1L2S model). The 1L2S model is ruled out based on the contradiction that the faint source companion is bigger than its primary, and one of the 2L1S solutions is excluded from the combination of the poorer fit, blending constraint, and lower overall probability, leaving two surviving solutions with the planet/host mass ratios of <jats:italic>q</jats:italic> ~ 2.8 × 10<jats:sup>−5</jats:sup> and ~ 1.1 × 10<jats:sup>−5</jats:sup>. A subtle central deviation supports the possibility of a tertiary lens component, either a binary companion to the host with a very large or small separation, or a second planet lying near the Einstein ring, but it is difficult to claim a secure detection due to the marginal improvement of the fit, lack of consistency among different data sets, and difficulty in uniquely specifying the nature of the tertiary component.</jats:p> <jats:p><jats:italic>Results.</jats:italic> With the observables of the event, it is estimated that the masses of the planet and host are ~ (6.9 <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>⊕</jats:sub>, 0.75 <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>⊙</jats:sub>) according to one solution and~(2.8 <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>⊕</jats:sub>, 0.80 <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>⊙</jats:sub>) according to the other, indicating that the planet is a super Earth around a K-type star, regardless of the solution. The fact that 16 (including the one reported in this work) out of 19 microlensing planets with <jats:italic>M</jats:italic> ≲ 10 <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>⊕</jats:sub> were detected during the last 6 yr nicely demonstrates the importance of high-cadence global surveys in detecting very low-mass planets.</jats:p>

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>We report the analysis of OGLE-2019-BLG-0960, which contains the smallest mass-ratio microlensing planet found to date (<jats:italic>q</jats:italic> = 1.2–1.6 × 10<jats:sup>−5</jats:sup> at 1<jats:italic>σ</jats:italic>). Although there is substantial uncertainty in the satellite parallax measured by Spitzer, the measurement of the annual parallax effect combined with the finite source effect allows us to determine the mass of the host star (<jats:italic>M</jats:italic> <jats:sub>L</jats:sub> = 0.3–0.6 <jats:italic>M</jats:italic> <jats:sub>⊙</jats:sub>), the mass of its planet (<jats:italic>m</jats:italic> <jats:sub> <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> </jats:sub> = 1.4–3.1 <jats:italic>M</jats:italic> <jats:sub>⊕</jats:sub>), the projected separation between the host and planet (<jats:italic>a</jats:italic> <jats:sub>⊥</jats:sub> = 1.2–2.3 au), and the distance to the lens system (<jats:italic>D</jats:italic> <jats:sub>L</jats:sub> = 0.6–1.2 kpc). The lens is plausibly the blend, which could be checked with adaptive optics observations. As the smallest planet clearly below the break in the mass-ratio function, it demonstrates that current experiments are powerful enough to robustly measure the slope of the mass-ratio function below that break. We find that the cross-section for detecting small planets is maximized for planets with separations just outside of the boundary for resonant caustics and that sensitivity to such planets can be maximized by intensively monitoring events whenever they are magnified by a factor <jats:italic>A</jats:italic> > 5. Finally, an empirical investigation demonstrates that most planets showing a degeneracy between (<jats:italic>s</jats:italic> > 1) and (<jats:italic>s</jats:italic> < 1) solutions are not in the regime (<jats:inline-formula> <jats:tex-math> <?CDATA $| \mathrm{log}s| \gg 0$?> </jats:tex-math> <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mo stretchy="false">∣</mml:mo> <mml:mi>log</mml:mi> <mml:mi>s</mml:mi> <mml:mo stretchy="false">∣</mml:mo> <mml:mo>≫</mml:mo> <mml:mn>0</mml:mn> </mml:math> <jats:inline-graphic xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="ajac1582ieqn1.gif" xlink:type="simple" /> </jats:inline-formula>) for which the “close”/“wide” degeneracy was derived. This investigation suggests that there is a link between the “close”/“wide” and “inner/outer” degeneracies and also that the symmetry in the lens equation goes much deeper than symmetries uncovered for the limiting cases.</jats:p>

<jats:p><jats:italic>Aims.</jats:italic> We investigate the microlensing event KMT-2021-BLG-0322, for which the light curve exhibits three distinctive sets of caustic-crossing features. It is found that the overall features of the light curve are approximately described by a binary-lens (2L1S) model, but the model leaves substantial residuals. We test various interpretations with the aim of explaining the residuals.</jats:p> <jats:p><jats:italic>Methods.</jats:italic> We find that the residuals can be explained either by considering a nonrectilinear lens-source motion caused by the microlens-parallax and lens-orbital effects or by adding a low-mass companion to the binary lens (3L1S model). The degeneracy between the higher-order 2L1S model and the 3L1S model is very severe, making it difficult to single out a correct solution based on the photometric data. This degeneracy was known before for two previous events (MACHO-97-BLG-41 and OGLE-2013-BLG-0723), which led to the false detections of planets in binary systems, and thus the identification of the degeneracy for KMT-2021-BLG-0322 illustrates that the degeneracy can be not only common but also very severe, emphasizing the need to check both interpretations of deviations from 2L1S models.</jats:p> <jats:p><jats:italic>Results.</jats:italic> From the Bayesian analysis conducted with the measured lensing observables of the event timescale, angular Einstein radius, and microlens parallax, it was estimated that the binary lens components have masses (<jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>1</jats:sub>,<jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>2</jats:sub>) = (0.62<jats:sub>−0.26</jats:sub><jats:sup>+0.25</jats:sup> <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>⊙</jats:sub>, 0.07<jats:sub>−0.03</jats:sub><jats:sup>+0.03</jats:sup> <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>⊙</jats:sub>), for both 2L1S and 3L1S solutions, and the mass of the tertiary lens component according to the 3L1S solution is <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>3</jats:sub> = 6.40<jats:sub>−2.78</jats:sub><jats:sup>+2.64</jats:sup> <jats:italic>M</jats:italic><jats:sub>J</jats:sub>.</jats:p>

Abstract MOA-2006-BLG-074 was selected as one of the most promising planetary candidates in a retrospective analysis of the MOA collaboration: its asymmetric high-magnification peak can be perfectly explained by a source passing across a central caustic deformed by a small planet. However, after a detailed analysis of the residuals, we have realized that a single lens and a source orbiting with a faint companion provides a more satisfactory explanation for all the observed deviations from a Paczynski curve and the only physically acceptable interpretation. Indeed the orbital motion of the source is constrained enough to allow a very good characterization of the binary source from the microlensing light curve. The case of MOA-2006-BLG-074 suggests that the so-called xallarap effect must be taken seriously in any attempts to obtain accurate planetary demographics from microlensing surveys.

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p>Characterizing a planet detected by microlensing is hard if the planetary signal is weak or the lens-source relative trajectory is far from caustics. However, statistical analyses of planet demography must include those planets to accurately determine occurrence rates. As part of a systematic modelling effort in the context of a &gt;10-yr retrospective analysis of MOA’s survey observations to build an extended MOA statistical sample, we analyse the light curve of the planetary microlensing event MOA-2014-BLG-472. This event provides weak constraints on the physical parameters of the lens, as a result of a planetary anomaly occurring at low magnification in the light curve. We use a Bayesian analysis to estimate the properties of the planet, based on a refined Galactic model and the assumption that all Milky Way’s stars have an equal planet-hosting probability. We find that a lens consisting of a $1.9^{+2.2}_{-1.2}\, \mathrm{M}_\mathrm{J}$ giant planet orbiting a $0.31^{+0.36}_{-0.19}\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ host at a projected separation of $0.75\pm 0.24\, \mathrm{au}$ is consistent with the observations and is most likely, based on the Galactic priors. The lens most probably lies in the Galactic bulge, at $7.2^{+0.6}_{-1.7}\,\mathrm{kpc}$ from Earth. The accurate measurement of the measured planet-to-host star mass ratio will be included in the next statistical analysis of cold planet demography detected by microlensing.</jats:p>

We investigate the gravitational microlensing event KMT-2019-BLG-1715, of which light curve shows two short-term anomalies from a caustic-crossing binary-lensing light curve: one with a large deviation and the other with a small deviation. We identify five pairs of solutions, in which the anomalies are explained by adding an extra lens or source component in addition to the base binary-lens model. We resolve the degeneracies by applying a method, in which the measured flux ratio between the first and second source stars is compared with the flux ratio deduced from the ratio of the source radii. Applying this method leaves a single pair of viable solutions, in both of which the major anomaly is generated by a planetary-mass third body of the lens, and the minor anomaly is generated by a faint second source. A Bayesian analysis indicates that the lens comprises three masses: a planet-mass object with $\sim 2.6~M_{\rm J}$ and binary stars of K and M dwarfs lying in the galactic disk. We point out the possibility that the lens is the blend, and this can be verified by conducting high-resolution followup imaging for the resolution of the lens from the source.

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman) will provide an enormous number of microlensing light curves with much better photometric precision than ongoing ground-based observations. Such light curves will enable us to observe high-order microlensing effects which have been previously difficult to detect. In this paper, we investigate Roman's potential to detect and characterize short-period planets and brown dwarfs (BDs) in source systems using the orbital motion of source stars, the so-called xallarap effect. We analytically estimate the measurement uncertainties of xallarap parameters using Fisher matrix analysis. We show that the Roman Galactic Exoplanet Survey can detect warm Jupiters with masses down to 0.5 <jats:italic>M</jats:italic> <jats:sub>Jup</jats:sub> and orbital periods of 30 days via the xallarap effect. Assuming a planetary frequency function from Cumming et al., we find Roman will detect ∼10 hot and warm Jupiters and ∼30 close-in BDs around microlensed source stars during the microlensing survey. These detections are likely to be accompanied by the measurements of the companion’s masses and orbital elements, which will aid in the study of the physical properties for close-in planet and BD populations in the Galactic bulge.</jats:p>

We report a giant exoplanet discovery in the microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-1049, which is a planet-host star mass ratio of $q=9.53\pm0.39\times10^{-3}$ and has a caustic crossing feature in the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) observations. The caustic crossing feature yields an angular Einstein radius of $\theta_{\rm E}=0.52 \pm 0.11\ {\rm mas}$. However, the microlens parallax is not measured because of the time scale of the event $t_{\rm E}\simeq 29\ {\rm days}$, which is not long enough in this case to determine the microlens parallax. Thus, we perform a Bayesian analysis to estimate physical quantities of the lens system. From this, we find that the lens system has a star with mass $M_{\rm h}=0.55^{+0.36}_{-0.29} \ M_{\odot}$ hosting a giant planet with $M_{\rm p}=5.53^{+3.62}_{-2.87} \ M_{\rm Jup}$, at a distance of $D_{\rm L}=5.67^{+1.11}_{-1.52}\ {\rm kpc}$. The projected star-planet separation in units of the Einstein radius $(\theta_{\rm E})$ corresponding to the total mass of the lens system is $a_{\perp}=3.92^{+1.10}_{-1.32}\ \rm{au}$. This means that the planet is located beyond the snow line of the host. The relative lens-source proper motion is $\mu_{\rm rel}\sim 7 \ \rm{mas \ yr^{-1 } }$, thus the lens and source will be separated from each other within 10 years. Then the flux of the host star can be measured by a 30m class telescope with high-resolution imaging in the future, and thus its mass can be determined.

We present the analysis of the event OGLE-2017-BLG-1186 from the 2017 Spitzer microlensing campaign. This is a remarkable microlensing event because its source is photometrically bright and variable, which makes it possible to perform an asteroseismic analysis using ground-based data. We find that the source star is an oscillating red giant with average timescale of $\sim 9$ d. The asteroseismic analysis also provides us source properties including the source angular size ($\sim 27~\mu{\rm as}$) and distance ($\sim 11.5$ kpc), which are essential for inferring the properties of the lens. When fitting the light curve, we test the feasibility of Gaussian Processes (GPs) in handling the correlated noise caused by the variable source. We find that the parameters from the GP model are generally more loosely constrained than those from the traditional $\chi^2$ minimization method. We note that this event is the first microlensing system for which asteroseismology and GPs have been used to account for the variable source. With both finite-source effect and microlens parallax measured, we find that the lens is likely a $\sim 0.045~M_{\odot}$ brown dwarf at distance $\sim 9.0$ kpc, or a $\sim 0.073~M_{\odot}$ ultracool dwarf at distance $\sim 9.8$ kpc. Combining the estimated lens properties with a Bayesian analysis using a Galactic model, we find a $\sim 35$ per cent probability for the lens to be a bulge object and $\sim 65$ per cent to be a background disc object.

We report the discovery of a sub-Jupiter mass planet orbiting beyond the snow line of an M-dwarf most likely in the Galactic disk as part of the joint Spitzer and ground-based monitoring of microlensing planetary anomalies toward the Galactic bulge. The microlensing parameters are strongly constrained by the light curve modeling and in particular by the Spitzer-based measurement of the microlens parallax, $\pi_\mathrm{E}$. However, in contrast to many planetary microlensing events, there are no caustic crossings, so the angular Einstein radius, $\theta_\mathrm{E}$ has only an upper limit based on the light curve modeling alone. Additionally, the analysis leads us to identify 8 degenerate configurations: the four-fold microlensing parallax degeneracy being doubled by a degeneracy in the caustic structure present at the level of the ground-based solutions. To pinpoint the physical parameters, and at the same time to break the parallax degeneracy, we make use of a series of arguments: the $\chi^2$ hierarchy, the Rich argument, and a prior Galactic model. The preferred configuration is for a host at $D_L=3.73_{-0.67}^{+0.66}~\mathrm{kpc}$ with mass $M_\mathrm{L}=0.30_{-0.12}^{+0.15}~\mathrm{M_\odot}$, orbited by a Saturn-like planet with $M_\mathrm{planet}=0.43_{-0.17}^{+0.21}~\mathrm{M_\mathrm{Jup } }$ at projected separation $a_\perp = 1.70_{-0.39}^{+0.38}~\mathrm{au}$, about 2.1 times beyond the system snow line. Therefore, it adds to the growing population of sub-Jupiter planets orbiting near or beyond the snow line of M-dwarfs discovered by microlensing. Based on the rules of the real-time protocol for the selection of events to be followed up with Spitzer, this planet will not enter the sample for measuring the Galactic distribution of planets.

<jats:p>Planet formation theories predict the existence of free-floating planets that have been ejected from their parent systems. Although they emit little or no light, they can be detected during gravitational microlensing events. Microlensing events caused by rogue planets are characterized by very short timescales <jats:italic>t</jats:italic><jats:sub>E</jats:sub> (typically below two days) and small angular Einstein radii <jats:italic>θ</jats:italic><jats:sub>E</jats:sub> (up to several <jats:italic>μ</jats:italic>as). Here we present the discovery and characterization of two ultra-short microlensing events identified in data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) survey, which may have been caused by free-floating or wide-orbit planets. OGLE-2012-BLG-1323 is one of the shortest events discovered thus far (<jats:italic>t</jats:italic><jats:sub>E</jats:sub> = 0.155 ± 0.005 d, <jats:italic>θ</jats:italic><jats:sub>E</jats:sub> = 2.37 ± 0.10<jats:italic>μ</jats:italic>as) and was caused by an Earth-mass object in the Galactic disk or a Neptune-mass planet in the Galactic bulge. OGLE-2017-BLG-0560 (<jats:italic>t</jats:italic><jats:sub>E</jats:sub> = 0.905 ± 0.005 d, <jats:italic>θ</jats:italic><jats:sub>E</jats:sub> = 38.7 ± 1.6<jats:italic>μ</jats:italic>as) was caused by a Jupiter-mass planet in the Galactic disk or a brown dwarf in the bulge. We rule out stellar companions up to a distance of 6.0 and 3.9 au, respectively. We suggest that the lensing objects, whether located on very wide orbits or free-floating, may originate from the same physical mechanism. Although the sample of ultrashort microlensing events is small, these detections are consistent with low-mass wide-orbit or unbound planets being more common than stars in the Milky Way.</jats:p>

We present the analysis of the caustic-crossing binary microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-0039. Thanks to the very long duration of the event, with an event time scale $t_{\rm E}\sim 130$ days, the microlens parallax is precisely measured despite its small value of $\pie\sim 0.06$. The analysis of the well-resolved caustic crossings during both the source star's entrance and exit of the caustic yields the angular Einstein radius $\thetae\sim 0.6$~mas. The measured $\pie$ and $\thetae$ indicate that the lens is a binary composed of two stars with masses $\sim 1.0~M_\odot$ and $\sim 0.15~M_\odot$, and it is located at a distance of $\sim 6$ kpc. From the color and brightness of the lens estimated from the determined lens mass and distance, it is expected that $\sim 2/3$ of the $I$-band blended flux comes from the lens. Therefore, the event is a rare case of a bright lens event for which high-resolution follow-up observations can confirm the nature of the lens.

We report the discovery of a planetary system in which a super-earth orbits a late M-dwarf host. The planetary system was found from the analysis of the microlensing event OGLE-2017-BLG-0482, wherein the planet signal appears as a short-term anomaly to the smooth lensing light curve produced by the host. Despite its weak signal and short duration, the planetary signal was firmly detected from the dense and continuous coverage by three microlensing surveys. We find a planet/host mass ratio of $q\sim 1.4\times 10^{-4}$. We measure the microlens parallax $\pi_{\rm E}$ from the long-term deviation in the observed lensing light curve, but the angular Einstein radius $\theta_{\rm E}$ cannot be measured because the source trajectory did not cross the planet-induced caustic. Using the measured event timescale and the microlens parallax, we find that the masses of the planet and the host are $M_{\rm p}=9.0_{-4.5}^{+9.0}\ M_\oplus$ and $M_{\rm host}=0.20_{-0.10}^{+0.20}\ M_\odot$, respectively, and the projected separation between them is $a_\perp=1.8_{-0.7}^{+0.6}$ au. The estimated distance to the lens is $D_{\rm L}=5.8_{-2.1}^{+1.8}$ kpc. The discovery of the planetary system demonstrates that microlensing provides an important method to detect low-mass planets orbiting low-mass stars.

We present the analysis of the binary-microlensing event OGLE-2014-BLG-0289. The event light curve exhibits very unusual five peaks where four peaks were produced by caustic crossings and the other peak was produced by a cusp approach. It is found that the quintuple-peak features of the light curve provide tight constraints on the source trajectory, enabling us to precisely and accurately measure the microlensing parallax $\pi_{\rm E}$. Furthermore, the three resolved caustics allow us to measure the angular Einstein radius $\thetae$. From the combination of $\pi_{\rm E}$ and $\thetae$, the physical lens parameters are uniquely determined. It is found that the lens is a binary composed of two M dwarfs with masses $M_1 = 0.52 \pm 0.04\ M_\odot$ and $M_2=0.42 \pm 0.03\ M_\odot$ separated in projection by $a_\perp = 6.4 \pm 0.5$ au. The lens is located in the disk with a distance of $D_{\rm L} = 3.3 \pm 0.3$~kpc. It turns out that the reason for the absence of a lensing signal in the {\it Spitzer} data is that the time of observation corresponds to the flat region of the light curve.

The first detected gravitational wave from a neutron star merger was GW170817. In this study, we present J-GEM follow-up observations of SSS17a, an electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817. SSS17a shows a 2.5-mag decline in the $z$-band from 1.7 days to 7.7 days after the merger. Such a rapid decline is not comparable with supernovae light curves at any epoch. The color of SSS17a also evolves rapidly and becomes redder for later epochs; the $z-H$ color changed by approximately 2.5 mag in the period of 0.7 days to 7.7 days. The rapid evolution of both the optical brightness and the color are consistent with the expected properties of a kilonova that is powered by the radioactive decay of newly synthesized $r$-process nuclei. Kilonova models with Lanthanide elements can reproduce the aforementioned observed properties well, which suggests that $r$-process nucleosynthesis beyond the second peak takes place in SSS17a. However, the absolute magnitude of SSS17a is brighter than the expected brightness of the kilonova models with the ejecta mass of 0.01 $\Msun$, which suggests a more intense mass ejection ($\sim 0.03 \Msun$) or possibly an additional energy source.

Recent detection of gravitational waves from a neutron star (NS) merger event GW170817 and identification of an electromagnetic counterpart provide a unique opportunity to study the physical processes in NS mergers. To derive properties of ejected material from the NS merger, we perform radiative transfer simulations of kilonova, optical and near-infrared emissions powered by radioactive decays of r-process nuclei synthesized in the merger. We find that the observed near-infrared emission lasting for >10 d is explained by 0.03 M-circle dot of ejecta containing lanthanide elements. However, the blue optical component observed at the initial phases requires an ejecta component with a relatively high electron fraction (Y-e). We show that both optical and near-infrared emissions are simultaneously reproduced by the ejecta with a medium Y-e of similar to 0.25. We suggest that a dominant component powering the emission is post-merger ejecta, which exhibits that the mass ejection after the first dynamical ejection is quite efficient. Our results indicate that NS mergers synthesize a wide range of r-process elements and strengthen the hypothesis that NS mergers are the origin of r-process elements in the Universe.

We present the result of microlensing event MOA-2016-BLG-290, which received observations from the two-wheel Kepler (K2), Spitzer, as well as ground-based observatories. A joint analysis of data from K2 and the ground leads to two degenerate solutions of the lens mass and distance. This degeneracy is effectively broken once the (partial) Spitzer light curve is included. Altogether, the lens is found to be an extremely low-mass star or brown dwarf (77(23)(+34) M-J) located in the Galactic bulge (6.8 +/- 0.4 kpc). MOA-2016-BLG-290 is the first microlensing event for which we have signals from three well-separated (similar to 1 au) locations. It demonstrates the power of two-satellite microlensing experiment in reducing the ambiguity of lens properties, as pointed out independently by S. Refsdal and A. Gould several decades ago.