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R. Poleski

Publications and source records attributed to R. Poleski.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Extracting Microlensing Signals from K2 Campaign 9

The reduction of the \emph{K2}'s Campaign 9 (K2C9) microlensing data is challenging mostly because of the very crowded field and the unstable pointing of the spacecraft. In this work, we present the first method that can extract microlensing signals from this K2C9 data product. The raw light curves and the astrometric solutions are first derived, using the techniques from Soares-Furtado et al. and Huang et al. for \emph{K2} dense field photometry. We then minimize and remove the systematic effect by performing simultaneous modeling with the microlensing signal. We also derive precise $(K_p-I)$ vs. $(V-I)$ color-color relations that can predict the microlensing source flux in the \emph{Kepler} bandpass. By implementing the color-color relation in the light curve modeling, we show that the microlensing parameters can be better constrained. In the end, we use two example microlensing events, OGLE-2016-BLG-0980 and OGLE-2016-BLG-0940, to test our method.

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OGLE-2016-BLG-0263L\lowercase{b}: Microlensing Detection of a Very Low-mass Binary Companion Through a Repeating Event Channel

We report the discovery of a planet-mass companion to the microlens OGLE-2016-BLG-0263L. Unlike most low-mass companions that were detected through perturbations to the smooth and symmetric light curves produced by the primary, the companion was discovered through the channel of a repeating event, in which the companion itself produced its own single-mass light curve after the event produced by the primary had ended. Thanks to the continuous coverage of the second peak by high-cadence surveys, the possibility of the repeating nature due to source binarity is excluded with a $96\%$ confidence level. The mass of the companion estimated by a Bayesian analysis is $M_{\rm p}=4.1_{-2.5}^{+6.5}\ M_{\rm J}$. The projected primary-companion separation is $a_\perp = 6.5^{+1.3}_{-1.9}$ au. The ratio of the separation to the snow-line distance of $a_\perp/a_{\rm sl}\sim 15.4$ corresponds to the region beyond Neptune, the outermost planet of the solar system. We discuss the importance of high-cadence surveys in expanding the range of microlensing detections of low-mass companions and future space-based microlensing surveys.

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Searching for Potential Mergers among 22 500 Eclipsing Binary Stars in the OGLE-III Galactic Bulge Fields

Inspired by the discovery of the red nova V1309 Sco (Nova Scorpii 2008) and the fact that its progenitor was a binary system with a rapidly decreasing orbital period, we have searched for period changes in OGLE binary stars. We have selected a sample of 22 462 short-period (P_orb < 4d) eclipsing binary stars observed toward the Galactic bulge by the OGLE-III survey in years 2001-2009. This dataset was extended with photometry from OGLE-II (1997-2000) and the first six years of OGLE-IV (2010-2015). For some stars, the data were supplemented with OGLE-I photometry (1992-1995). After close inspection of the whole sample we have found 56 systems with realistic period decrease and 52 systems with realistic period increase. We have also recognized 35 systems with cyclic period variations. The highest negative period change rate of -1.943 x10^-4 d/y has been detected in detached eclipsing binary OGLE-BLG-ECL-139622 with P_orb = 2.817 d, while all other found systems are contact binaries with orbital periods mostly shorter than 1.0 d. For 22 our systems with decreasing orbital period the absolute rate is higher than the value reported recently for eclipsing binary KIC 9832227. Interestingly, there is an excess of systems with high negative period change rate over systems with positive rate. We cannot exclude the possibility that some of the contact binaries with relatively long orbital period and high negative period change rate will merge in the future. However, our results rather point to the presence of tertiary companions in the observed systems and/or spot activity on the surface of the binary components.

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Ground-based parallax confirmed by Spitzer: binary microlensing event MOA-2015-BLG-020

We present the analysis of the binary gravitational microlensing event MOA-2015-BLG-020. The event has a fairly long timescale (about 63 days) and thus the light curve deviates significantly from the lensing model that is based on the rectilinear lens-source relative motion. This enables us to measure the microlensing parallax through the annual parallax effect. The microlensing parallax parameters constrained by the ground-based data are confirmed by the Spitzer observations through the satellite parallax method. By additionally measuring the angular Einstein radius from the analysis of the resolved caustic crossing, the physical parameters of the lens are determined. It is found that the binary lens is composed of two dwarf stars with masses $M_1 = 0.606 \pm 0.028M_\odot$ and $M_2 = 0.125 \pm 0.006M_\odot$ in the Galactic disk. Assuming the source star is at the same distance as the bulge red clump stars, we find the lens is at a distance $D_L = 2.44 \pm 0.10 kpc$. In the end, we provide a summary and short discussion of all published microlensing events in which the annual parallax effect is confirmed by other independent observations.

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Chemical evolution of the Galactic bulge as traced by microlensed dwarf and subgiant stars. VI. Age and abundance structure of the stellar populations in the central sub-kpc of the Milky Way

We present a detailed elemental abundance study of 90 F and G dwarf, turn-off and subgiant stars in the Galactic bulge. Based on high-resolution spectra acquired during gravitational microlensing events, stellar ages and abundances for 11 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Zn, Y and Ba) have been determined. We find that the Galactic bulge has a wide metallicity distribution with significant peaks at [Fe/H]=-1.09, -0.63, -0.20, +0.12, +0.41. We also find a high fraction of intermediate-age to young stars: at [Fe/H]>0 more than 35 % are younger than 8 Gyr. For [Fe/H]<-0.5 most stars are 10 Gyr or older. We have also identified several episodes when significant star formation in the bulge happened: 3, 6, 8, and 12 Gyr ago. We further find that the "knee" in the alpha-element abundance trends of the sub-solar metallicity bulge is located at about 0.1 dex higher [Fe/H] than in the local thick disk. The Galactic bulge has complex age and abundance properties that appear to be tightly connected to the main Galactic stellar populations. In particular, the peaks in the metallicity distribution, the star formation episodes, and the abundance trends, show similarities with the properties of the Galactic thin and thick disks. At the same time there are additional components not seen outside the bulge region, and that most likely can be associated with the Galactic bar. For instance, the star formation rate appears to have been slightly faster in the bulge than in the local thick disk, which most likely is an indication of the denser stellar environment closer to the Galactic centre. Our results strengthen the observational evidence that support the idea of a secular origin for the Galactic bulge, formed out of the other main Galactic stellar populations present in the central regions of our Galaxy.

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OGLE-ing the Magellanic System: Three-Dimensional Structure of the Clouds and the Bridge Using RR Lyrae Stars

We present a three-dimensional analysis of a sample of 22 859 type $ab$ RR Lyrae stars in the Magellanic System from the OGLE-IV Collection of RR Lyrae stars. The distance to each object was calculated based on its photometric metallicity and a theoretical relation between color, absolute magnitude and metallicity. The LMC RR Lyrae distribution is very regular and does not show any substructures. We demonstrate that the bar found in previous studies may be an overdensity caused by blending and crowding effects. The halo is asymmetrical with a higher stellar density in its north-eastern area, which is also located closer to us. Triaxial ellipsoids were fitted to surfaces of a constant number density. Ellipsoids farther from the LMC center are less elongated and slightly rotated toward the SMC. The inclination and position angle change significantly with the $a$ axis size. The median axis ratio is $1:1.23:1.45$. The RR Lyrae distribution in the SMC has a very regular, ellipsoidal shape and does not show any substructures or asymmetries. All triaxial ellipsoids fitted to surfaces of a constant number density have virtually the same shape (axis ratio) and are elongated along the line of sight. The median axis ratio is $1:1.10:2.13$. The inclination angle is very small and thus the position angle is not well defined. We present the distribution of RR Lyrae stars in the Magellanic Bridge area, showing that the Magellanic Clouds' halos overlap. A comparison of the distributions of RR Lyrae stars and Classical Cepheids shows that the former are significantly more spread and distributed regularly, while the latter are very clumped and form several distinct substructures.

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A ground-based proper motion study of twelve nearby Globular Clusters

We derive relative proper motions of stars in the fields of the globular clusters M12, NGC 6362, M4, M55, M22, NGC 6752, NGC 3201, M30, M10, NGC 362, M5, and 47 Tucanae based on data collected between 1997 and 2015 with the 1-m Swope telescope of Las Campanas Observatory. We determine membership class and membership probability for over 446 000 objects, and show that these are efficient methods for separating field stars from members of the cluster. In particular, membership probabilities of variable stars and blue/yellow/red stragglers are determined. Finally, we find absolute proper motions for six globular clusters from our sample: M55, NGC 3201, M10, NGC 362, M5, and 47 Tuc. An electronic catalogue of the derived proper motions is publicly available via the internet.

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Concluding Henrietta Leavitt's Work on Classical Cepheids in the Magellanic System and Other Updates of the OGLE Collection of Variable Stars

More than a century ago, Henrietta Leavitt discovered the first Cepheids in the Magellanic Clouds together with the famous period-luminosity relationship revealed by these stars, which soon after revolutionized our view of the Universe. Over the years, the number of known Cepheids in these galaxies has steadily increased with the breakthrough in the last two decades thanks to the new generation of large-scale long-term sky variability surveys. Here we present the final upgrade of the OGLE Collection of Cepheids in the Magellanic System which already contained the vast majority of known Cepheids. The updated collection now comprises 9649 classical and 262 anomalous Cepheids. Type-II Cepheids will be updated shortly. Thanks to high completeness of the OGLE survey the sample of classical Cepheids includes virtually all stars of this type in the Magellanic Clouds. Thus, the OGLE survey concludes the work started by Leavitt. Additionally, the OGLE sample of RR Lyrae stars in the Magellanic System has been updated. It now counts 46 443 variables. A collection of seven anomalous Cepheids in the halo of our Galaxy detected in front of the Magellanic Clouds is also presented. OGLE photometric data are available to the astronomical community from the OGLE Internet Archive. The time-series photometry of all pulsating stars in the OGLE Collection has been supplemented with new observations.

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Blue large-amplitude pulsators as a new class of variable stars

Regular intrinsic brightness variations observed in many stars are caused by pulsations. These pulsations provide information on the global and structural parameters of the star. The pulsation periods range from seconds to years, depending on the compactness of the star and properties of the matter that forms its outer layers. Here, we report the discovery of more than a dozen of previously unknown short-period variable stars: blue large-amplitude pulsators. These objects show very regular brightness variations with periods in the range of 20-40 min and amplitudes of 0.2-0.4 mag in the optical passbands. The phased light curves have a characteristic sawtooth shape, similar to the shape of classical Cepheids and RR Lyrae-type stars pulsating in the fundamental mode. The objects are significantly bluer than main sequence stars observed in the same fields, which indicates that all of them are hot stars. Follow-up spectroscopy confirms a high surface temperature of about 30,000 K. Temperature and colour changes over the cycle prove the pulsational nature of the variables. However, large-amplitude pulsations at such short periods are not observed in any known type of stars, including hot objects. Long-term photometric observations show that the variable stars are very stable over time. Derived rates of period change are of the order of 10^-7 per year and, in most cases, they are positive. According to pulsation theory, such large-amplitude oscillations may occur in evolved low-mass stars that have inflated helium-enriched envelopes. The evolutionary path that could lead to such stellar configurations remains unknown.

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OGLE-2016-BLG-0168 Binary Microlensing Event: Prediction and Confirmation of the Micorlens Parallax Effect from Space-based Observation

The microlens parallax is a crucial observable for conclusively identifying the nature of lens systems in microlensing events containing or composed of faint (even dark) astronomical objects such as planets, neutron stars, brown dwarfs, and black holes. With the commencement of a new era of microlensing in collaboration with space-based observations, the microlens parallax can be routinely measured. In addition, space-based observations can provide opportunities to verify the microlens parallax measured from ground-only observations and to find a unique solution of the lensing lightcurve analysis. However, since most space-based observations cannot cover the full lightcurves of lensing events, it is also necessary to verify the reliability of the information extracted from fragmentary space-based lightcurves. We conduct a test based on the microlensing event OGLE-2016-BLG-0168 created by a binary lens system consisting of almost equal mass M-dwarf stars to demonstrate that it is possible to verify the microlens parallax and to resolve degeneracies by using the space-based lightcurve even though the observations are fragmentary. Since space-based observatories will frequently produce fragmentary lightcurves due to their short observing windows, the methodology of this test will be useful for next-generation microlensing experiments that combine space-based and ground-based collaboration.

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OGLE-2014-BLG-1112LB: A Microlensing Brown Dwarf Detected Through the Channel of a Gravitational Binary-Lens Event

Due to the nature depending on only the gravitational field, microlensing, in principle, provides an important tool to detect faint and even dark brown dwarfs. However, the number of identified brown dwarfs is limited due to the difficulty of the lens mass measurement that is needed to check the substellar nature of the lensing object. In this work, we report a microlensing brown dwarf discovered from the analysis of the gravitational binary-lens event OGLE-2014-BLG-1112. We identify the brown-dwarf nature of the lens companion by measuring the lens mass from the detections of both microlens-parallax and finite-source effects. We find that the companion has a mass of $(3.03 \pm 0.78)\times 10^{-2}\ M_\odot$ and it is orbiting a solar-type primary star with a mass of $1.07 \pm 0.28\ M_\odot$. The estimated projected separation between the lens components is $9.63 \pm 1.33$ au and the distance to the lens is $4.84 \pm 0.67$ kpc. We discuss the usefulness of space-based microlensing observations in detecting brown dwarfs through the channel of binary-lens events.

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The Lowest Mass Ratio Planetary Microlens: OGLE 2016-BLG-1195Lb

We report discovery of the lowest mass ratio exoplanet to be found by the microlensing method in the light curve of the event OGLE~2016--BLG--1195. This planet revealed itself as a small deviation from a microlensing single lens profile from an examination of the survey data soon after the planetary signal. The duration of the planetary signal is $\sim 2.5\,$hours. The measured ratio of the planet mass to its host star is $q = 4.2\pm 0.7 \times10^{-5}$. We further estimate that the lens system is likely to comprise a cold $\sim$3 Earth mass planet in a $\sim\,$2 AU wide orbit around a 0.2 Solar mass star at an overall distance of 7.1 kpc.

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OGLE-2016-BLG-1003: First Resolved Caustic-crossing Binary-source Event Discovered by Second-generation Microlensing Surveys

We report the analysis of the first resolved caustic-crossing binary-source microlensing event OGLE-2016-BLG-1003. The event is densely covered by the round-the-clock observations of three surveys. The light curve is characterized by two nested caustic-crossing features, which is unusual for typical caustic-crossing perturbations. From the modeling of the light curve, we find that the anomaly is produced by a binary source passing over a caustic formed by a binary lens. The result proves the importance of high-cadence and continuous observations, and the capability of second-generation microlensing experiments to identify such complex perturbations that are previously unknown. However, the result also raises the issues of the limitations of current analysis techniques for understanding lens systems beyond two masses and of determining the appropriate multiband observing strategy of survey experiments.

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OGLE-2013-BLG-1761Lb: A Massive Planet Around an M/K Dwarf

We report the discovery and the analysis of the planetary microlensing event, OGLE-2013-BLG-1761. There are some degenerate solutions in this event because the planetary anomaly is only sparsely sampled. But the detailed light curve analysis ruled out all stellar binary models and shows that the lens to be a planetary system. There is the so-called close/wide degeneracy in the solutions with the planet/host mass ratio of $q \sim (7.5 \pm 1.5) \times 10^{-3}$ and $q \sim (9.3 \pm 2.9) \times 10^{-3}$ with the projected separation in Einstein radius units of $s = 0.95$ (close) and $s = 1.19$ (wide), respectively. The microlens parallax effect is not detected but the finite source effect is detected. Our Bayesian analysis indicates that the lens system is located at $D_{\rm L}=6.9_{-1.2}^{+1.0} \ {\rm kpc}$ away from us and the host star is an M/K-dwarf with the mass of $M_{\rm L}=0.33_{-0.18}^{+0.32} \ M_{\odot}$ orbited by a super-Jupiter mass planet with the mass of $m_{\rm P}=2.8_{-1.5}^{+2.5} \ M_{\rm Jup}$ at the projected separation of $a_{\perp}=1.8_{-0.5}^{+0.5} \ {\rm AU}$. The preference of the large lens distance in the Bayesian analysis is due to the relatively large observed source star radius. The distance and other physical parameters can be constrained by the future high resolution imaging by ground large telescopes or HST. If the estimated lens distance is correct, this planet provides another sample for testing the claimed deficit of planets in the Galactic bulge.

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OGLE-2015-BLG-1482L: the first isolated low-mass microlens in the Galactic bulge

We analyze the single microlensing event OGLE-2015-BLG-1482 simultaneously observed from two ground-based surveys and from \textit{Spitzer}. The \textit{Spitzer} data exhibit finite-source effects due to the passage of the lens close to or directly over the surface of the source star as seen from \textit{Spitzer}. Such finite-source effects generally yield measurements of the angular Einstein radius, which when combined with the microlens parallax derived from a comparison between the ground-based and the \textit{Spitzer} light curves, yields the lens mass and lens-source relative parallax. From this analysis, we find that the lens of OGLE-2015-BLG-1482 is a very low-mass star with the mass $0.10 \pm 0.02 \ M_\odot$ or a brown dwarf with the mass $55\pm 9 \ M_{J}$, which are respectively located at $D_{\rm LS} = 0.80 \pm 0.19\ \textrm{kpc}$ and $ D_{\rm LS} = 0.54 \pm 0.08\ \textrm{kpc}$, and thus it is the first isolated low-mass microlens that has been decisively located in the Galactic bulge. The fundamental reason for the degeneracy is that the finite-source effect is seen only in a single data point from \textit{Spitzer} and this single data point gives rise to two solutions for $ρ$. Because the $ρ$ degeneracy can be resolved only by relatively high cadence observations around the peak, while the \textit{Spitzer} cadence is typically $\sim 1\,{\rm day}^{-1}$, we expect that events for which the finite-source effect is seen only in the \textit{Spitzer} data may frequently exhibit this $ρ$ degeneracy. For OGLE-2015-BLG-1482, the relative proper motion of the lens and source for the low-mass star is $μ_{\rm rel} = 9.0 \pm 1.9\ \textrm{mas yr$^{-1}$}$, while for the brown dwarf it is $5.5 \pm 0.5\ \textrm{mas yr$^{-1}$}$. Hence, the degeneracy can be resolved within $\sim 10\ \rm yrs$ from direct lens imaging by using next-generation instruments with high spatial resolution.

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OGLE-2016-BLG-0596Lb: High-Mass Planet From High-Magnification Pure-Survey Microlensing Event

We report the discovery of a high mass-ratio planet $q=0.012$, i.e., 13 times higher than the Jupiter/Sun ratio. The host mass is not presently measured but can be determined or strongly constrained from adaptive optics imaging. The planet was discovered in a small archival study of high-magnification events in pure-survey microlensing data, which was unbiased by the presence of anomalies. The fact that it was previously unnoticed may indicate that more such planets lie in archival data and could be discovered by similar systematic study. In order to understand the transition from predominantly survey+followup to predominately survey-only planet detections, we conduct the first analysis of these detections in the observational $(s,q)$ plane. Here $s$ is projected separation in units of the Einstein radius. We find some evidence that survey+followup is relatively more sensitive to planets near the Einstein ring, but that there is no statistical difference in sensitivity by mass ratio.

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Binary Source Microlensing Event OGLE-2016-BLG-0733: Interpretation of A Long-term Asymmetric Perturbation

In the process of analyzing an observed light curve, one often confronts various scenarios that can mimic the planetary signals causing difficulties in the accurate interpretation of the lens system. In this paper, we present the analysis of the microlensing event OGLE-2016-BLG-0733. The light curve of the event shows a long-term asymmetric perturbation that would appear to be due to a planet. From the detailed modeling of the lensing light curve, however, we find that the perturbation originates from the binarity of the source rather than the lens. This result demonstrates that binary sources with roughly equal-luminosity components can mimic long-term perturbations induced by planets with projected separations near the Einstein ring. The result also represents the importance of the consideration of various interpretations in planet-like perturbations and of high-cadence observations for ensuring the unambiguous detection of the planet.

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The OGLE Collection of Variable Stars. Over 450 000 Eclipsing and Ellipsoidal Binary Systems Toward the Galactic Bulge

We present a collection of 450 598 eclipsing and ellipsoidal binary systems detected in the OGLE fields toward the Galactic bulge. The collection consists of binary systems of all types: detached, semi-detached, and contact eclipsing binaries, RS CVn stars, cataclysmic variables, HW Vir binaries, double periodic variables, and even planetary transits. For all stars we provide the I- and V-band time-series photometry obtained during the OGLE-II, OGLE-III, and OGLE-IV surveys. We discuss methods used to identify binary systems in the OGLE data and present several objects of particular interest.

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