arXiv subjects

Hongjing Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Hongjing Yang.

103 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

Identification of stellar-mass black hole binaries and the validity of linear orbital motion approximation in microlensing

Gravitational microlensing is unique in detecting binary black (BH) holes with wide (a few au) separations. Models predict that about $1\%$ of microlensing binaries should be due to binary BHs, and yet zero has been robustly identified. Using simulated events with binary BH lenses, we show that the microlensing parallax effect in a typical binary BH event cannot be reliably detected. Given the crucial role of the parallax parameter in determining the mass of dark microlenses, this may explain the non-detection of binary BHs. Additionally, we show that in only a small fraction ($\lesssim7\%$) of the simulated events the full orbital motion of the binary lens cannot be modeled with the linear orbital motion approximation. This approximation has been frequently used in modelings of binary microlensing events.

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arXiv2022

KMT-2021-BLG-0171Lb and KMT-2021-BLG-1689Lb: Two Microlensing Planets in the KMTNet High-cadence Fields with Followup Observations

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 more uniform and efficient, we develop a system, HighMagFinder, based on the real-time data from the Korean Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet) to automatically alert possible ongoing high-magnification events. 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 $q\sim4.7\times10^{-5}$ or $q\sim 2.2\times10^{-5}$ for KMT-2021-BLG-0171, and $q\sim2.5\times10^{-4}$ or $q\sim 1.8\times10^{-4}$ for KMT-2021-BLG-1689. Together with two events reported by Ryu et al. (2022), 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 new factor for weighting the probability of each solution from the phase-space. The resonant interpretations for the two events are disfavored under this consideration. This factor can be included in future statistical studies to weight degenerate solutions.

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arXiv2022

KMT-2021-BLG-0240: Microlensing event with a deformed planetary signal

The light curve of the microlensing event KMT-2021-BLG-0240 exhibits a short-lasting anomaly with complex features near the peak at the 0.1~mag level from a single-lens single-source model. We conducted modeling of the lensing light curve under various interpretations to reveal the nature of the anomaly. It is found that the anomaly cannot be explained with the usual model based on a binary-lens (2L1S) or a binary-source (1L2S) interpretation. However, a 2L1S model with a planet companion can describe part of the anomaly, suggesting that the anomaly may be deformed by a tertiary lens component or a close companion to the source. From the additional modeling, we find that all the features of the anomaly can be explained with either a triple-lens (3L1S) model or a binary-lens binary-source (2L2S) model obtained under the 3L1S interpretation. However, it is difficult to validate the 2L2S model because the light curve does not exhibit signatures induced by the source orbital motion and the ellipsoidal variations expected by the close separation between the source stars according to the model. We, therefore, conclude that the two interpretations cannot be distinguished with the available data, and either can be correct. According to the 3L1S solution, the lens is a planetary system with two sub-Jovian-mass planets in which the planets have masses of 0.32--0.47~$M_{\rm J}$ and 0.44--0.93~$M_{\rm J}$, and they orbit an M dwarf host. According to the 2L2S solution, on the other hand, the lens is a single planet system with a mass of $\sim 0.21~M_{\rm J}$ orbiting a late K-dwarf host, and the source is a binary composed of a primary of a subgiant or a turnoff star and a secondary of a late G dwarf. The distance to the planetary system varies depending on the solution: $\sim 7.0$~kpc according to the 3L1S solution and $\sim 6.6$~kpc according to the 2L2S solution.

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arXiv2022

Systematic KMTNet Planetary Anomaly Search. V. Complete Sample of 2018 Prime-Field

We complete the analysis of all 2018 prime-field microlensing planets identified by the KMTNet AnomalyFinder. Among the 10 previously unpublished events with clear planetary solutions, 8 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 4 previously published new AnomalyFinder events and 12 previously published (or in preparation) planets that were discovered by eye, thismakes a total of 24 2018 prime-field planets discovered or recovered by AnomalyFinder. Together with a paper in preparation on 2018 sub-prime 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 of Hwang et al. (2022) to each event, we identify the small modification in their formalism that is needed to unify the so-called close/wide and inner/outer degeneracies, as conjectured by

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arXiv2022

Free-Floating Planets, the Einstein Desert, and 'Oumuamua

We complete the survey for finite-source/point-lens (FSPL) giant-source events in 2016-2019 KMTNet microlensing data. The 30 FSPL events show a clear gap in Einstein radius, $9\,μ{\rm as}<θ_{\rm E} <26\,μ{\rm as}$, which is consistent with the gap in Einstein timescales near $t_{\rm E}\sim 0.5\,$days found by Mroz et al. (2017) in an independent sample of point-source/point-lens (PSPL) events. We demonstrate that the two surveys are consistent. We estimate that the 4 events below this gap are due to a power-law distribution of free-floating planet candidates (FFPs) $dN_{\rm FFP}/d\log M = (0.4\pm 0.2)\,(M/38 M_\oplus)^{-p}$/star, with $0.9\lesssim p \lesssim 1.2$. There are substantially more FFPs than known bound planets, implying that the bound planet power-law index $γ=0.6$ is likely shaped by the ejection process at least as much as by formation. The mass density per decade of FFPs in the Solar neighborhood is of the same order as that of 'Oumuamua-like objects. In particular, if we assume that 'Oumuamua is part of the same process that ejected the FFPs to very wide or unbound orbits, the power-law index is $p=0.92\pm 0.06$. If the Solar System's endowment of Neptune-mass objects in Neptune-like orbits is typical, which is consistent with the results of Poleski et al. (2021), then these could account for a substantial fraction of the FFPs in the Neptune-mass range.

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arXiv2022

Mass Production of 2021 KMTNet Microlensing Planets I

We inaugurate a program of ``mass production'' of microlensing planets discovered in 2021 KMTNet data, with the aim of laying the basis for future statistical studies. While we ultimately plan to quickly publish all 2021 planets meeting some minimal criteria, the current sample of four was chosen simply on the basis of having low initial estimates of the planet-host mass ratio, $q$. It is therefore notable that 2 members of this sample suffer from a degeneracy in the normalized source radius $ρ$ that arises from different morphologies of closely spaced caustics. All four planets [KMT-2021-BLG-(1391,1253,1372,0748)] have well-characterized mass ratios, $q$, and therefore are suitable for mass-ratio frequency studies. Both of the $ρ$ degeneracies can be resolved by future adaptive optics (AO) observations on 30m class telescopes. We provide general guidance for such AO observations for all events in anticipation of the prospect that they will revolutionize the field of microlensing planets.

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arXiv2021

Systematic KMTNet Planetary Anomaly Search, Paper III: One Wide-Orbit Planet And Two Stellar Binaries

Only a few wide-orbit planets around old stars have been detected, which limits our statistical understanding of this planet population. Following the systematic search for planetary anomalies in microlensing events found by the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), we present the discovery and analysis of three events that were initially thought to contain wide-orbit planets. The anomalous feature in the light curve of OGLE-2018-BLG-0383 is caused by a planet with mass ratio $q=2.1\times 10^{-4}$ and a projected separation $s=2.45$. This makes it the lowest mass-ratio microlensing planet at such wide orbits. The other two events, KMT-2018-BLG-0998 and OGLE-2018-BLG-0271, are shown to be stellar binaries ($q>0.1$) with rather close ($s<1$) separations. We briefly discuss the properties of known wide-orbit microlensing planets and show that the survey observations are crucial in discovering and further statistically constraining such a planet population.

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arXiv2021

KMT-2021-BLG-0912Lb: A microlensing super Earth around a K-type star

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. We model the light curve under various interpretations. From this, we find four solutions, in which three solutions are found under the 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 a binary-star system (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 relatively worse fit, blending constraint, and lower overall probability, leaving two surviving solutions with the planet/host mass ratios of $q\sim 2.8\times 10^{-5}$ and $\sim 1.1\times 10^{-5}$. 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 fit improvement, lack of consistency among different data sets, and difficulty in uniquely specifying the nature of the tertiary component. With the observables of the event, it is estimated that the masses of the planet and host are $\sim (6.9~M_\oplus, 0.75~M_\odot)$ according to one solution and $\sim (2.8~M_\oplus, 0.80~M_\odot)$ according to the other solution, indicating that the planet is a super Earth around a K-type star, regardless of the solution.

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arXiv2021

Systematic KMTNet Planetary Anomaly Search, Paper II: Six New $q<2\times 10^{-4}$ Mass-ratio Planets

We apply the automated AnomalyFinder algorithm of Paper I (Zang et al. 2021b) to 2018-2019 light curves from the $\simeq 13\,{\rm deg}^2$ covered by the six KMTNet prime fields, with cadences $Γ\geq 2\,{\rm hr}^{-1}$. We find a total of 11 planets with mass ratios $q<2\times 10^{-4}$, including six newly discovered planets, one planet that was reported in Paper I, and recovery of four 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), $s$, and planet-host mass ratios, $q$, are, respectively, $(s,q\times 10^5) = (0.88, 4.1)$, $(0.96\pm 0.10, 8.3)$, $(0.94\pm 0.07, 13)$, $(0.97\pm 0.07, 18)$, $(0.97\pm0.04,4.1)$, and $(0.74,18)$, where the "$\pm$" indicates a discrete degeneracy. The 11 planets are spread out over the range $-5<\log q < -3.7$. Together with the two planets previously reported with $q\sim 10^{-5}$ from the 2018-2019 non-prime KMT fields, this result suggests that planets toward the bottom of this mass-ratio range may be more common than previously believed.

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arXiv2021

Microlensing Predictions: Impact of Galactic Disc Dynamical Models

Galactic model plays an important role in the microlensing field, not only for analyses of individual events but also for statistics of the ensemble of events. However, the Galactic models used in the field varies, and some are unrealistically simplified. Here we tested three Galactic disc dynamic models, the first is a simple standard model that was widely used in this field, whereas the other two consider the radial dependence of the velocity dispersion, and in the last model, the asymmetric drift. We found that for a typical lens mass $M_{\rm L}=0.5M_{\odot}$, the two new dynamical models predict $\sim16\%$ or $\sim5\%$ less long-timescale events (e.g., microlensing timescale $t_{\rm E}>300$ days) and $\sim 5\%$ and $\sim 3.5\%$ more short-timescale events ($t_{\rm E}<3$ days) than the standard model. Moreover, the microlensing event rate as a function of Einstein radius $θ_{\rm E}$ or microlensing parallax $π_{\rm E}$ also shows some model dependence (a few percent). The two new models also have an impact on the total microlensing event rate. This result will also to some degree affect the Bayesian analysis of individual events, but overall, the impact is small. However, we still recommend that modelers should be more careful when choosing the Galactic model, especially in statistical works involving Bayesian analyses of a large number of events. Additionally, we find the asymptotic power-law behaviors in both $θ_{\rm E}$ and $π_{\rm E}$ distributions, and we provide a simple model to understand them.

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arXiv2019

KMT-2016-BLG-1836Lb: A Super-Jovian Planet From A High-Cadence Microlensing Field

We report the discovery of a super-Jovian planet in the microlensing event KMT-2016-BLG-1836, which was found by the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network's high-cadence observations (Γ~ 4~{hr}^{-1}). The planet-host mass ratio q ~ 0.004. A Bayesian analysis indicates that the planetary system is composed of a super-Jovian M_{planet} = 2.2_{-1.1}^{+1.9} M_{J} planet orbiting an M or K dwarf M_{\rm host} = 0.49_{-0.25}^{+0.38} M_{Sun}, at a distance of D_{L} = 7.1_{-2.4}^{+0.8} kpc. The projected planet-host separation is 3.5^{+1.1}_{-0.9} AU, implying that the planet is located beyond the snowline of the host star. Future high-resolution images can potentially strongly constrain the lens brightness and thus the mass and distance of the planetary system. Without considering detailed detection efficiency, selection or publication biases, we find a potential "mass ratio desert" at -3.7 \lesssim \log q \lesssim -3.0 for the 31 published KMTNet planets.

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arXiv2019

Spitzer + VLTI-GRAVITY Measure the Lens Mass of a Nearby Microlensing Event

We report the lens mass and distance measurements of the nearby microlensing event TCP J05074264+2447555. We measure the microlens parallax vector $π_{\rm E}$ using Spitzer and ground-based light curves with constraints on the direction of lens-source relative proper motion derived from Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) GRAVITY observations. Combining this $π_{\rm E}$ determination with the angular Einstein radius $θ_{\rm E}$ measured by VLTI GRAVITY observations, we find that the lens is a star with mass $M_{\rm L} = 0.495 \pm 0.063~M_{\odot}$ at a distance $D_{\rm L} = 429 \pm 21~{\rm pc}$. We find that the blended light basically all comes from the lens. The lens-source proper motion is $μ_{\rm rel,hel} = 26.55 \pm 0.36~{\rm mas\,yr^{-1}}$, so with currently available adaptive-optics (AO) instruments, the lens and source can be resolved in 2021. This is the first microlensing event whose lens mass is unambiguously measured by interferometry + satellite parallax observations, which opens a new window for mass measurements of isolated objects such as stellar-mass black holes.

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arXiv2019

OGLE-2015-BLG-1771Lb: A Microlens Planet Orbiting an Ultracool Dwarf?

We report the discovery and the analysis of the short (tE < 5 days) planetary microlensing event, OGLE-2015-BLG-1771. The event was discovered by the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), and the planetary anomaly (at I ~ 19) was captured by The Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). The event has three surviving planetary models that explain the observed light curves, with planet-host mass ratio q \~ 5.4 * 10^{-3}, 4.5 * 10^{-3} and 4.5 * 10^{-2}, respectively. The first model is the best-fit model, while the second model is disfavored by Δχ^2 ~ 3. The last model is strongly disfavored by Δχ^2 ~ 15 but not ruled out. A Bayesian analysis using a Galactic model indicates that the first two models are probably composed of a Saturn-mass planet orbiting a late M dwarf, while the third one could consist of a super-Jovian planet and a mid-mass brown dwarf. The source-lens relative proper motion is mu_rel ~ 9 mas/yr, so the source and lens could be resolved by current adaptive-optics (AO) instruments in 2021 if the lens is luminous.

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