An Earth-Mass Planet In A Time Of Covid-19: Kmt-2020-Blg-0414Lb

Authors

Leandro De Almeida, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
Andrew Gould, Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy
Cheongho Han, Chungbuk National University
Iona Kondo, Osaka University
Chung-Uk Lee, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute
Shude Mao, Tsinghua University
Yossi Shvartzvald, Weizmann Institute of Science
Jennifer C. Yee, Harvard & Smithsonian
Weicheng Zang, Tsinghua University
Xiangyu Zhang, Tsinghua University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

We report the discovery of KMT-2020-BLG-0414Lb, with a planet-to-host mass ratio q (2) = 0.9-1.2 x 10(-5) = 3-4 circle plus at 1 sigma, which is the lowest mass-ratio microlensing planet to date. Together with two other recent discoveries (4 less than or similar to q/q (circle plus) less than or similar to 6), it fills out the previous empty sector at the bottom of the triangular (log s, log q) diagram, where s is the planet-host separation in units of the angular Einstein radius theta E. Hence, these discoveries call into question the existence, or at least the strength, of the break in the mass-ratio function that was previously suggested to account for the paucity of very low-q planets. Due to the extreme magnification of the event, A (max) similar to 1450 for the underlying single-lens event, its light curve revealed a second companion with q (3) similar to 0.05 and |log s (3)| similar to 1, i.e., a factor similar to 10 closer to or farther from the host in projection. The measurements of the microlens parallax pi (E) and the angular Einstein radius theta E allow estimates of the host, planet and second companion masses, (M (1), M (2), M (3)) similar to (0.3 M (circle dot), 1.0 M (circle plus), 17 M-J ), the planet and second companion projected separations, (a (perpendicular to,2), a (perpendicular to,3)) similar to (1.5, 0.15 or 15) au, and system distance D (L) similar to 1 kpc. The lens could account for most or all of the blended light (I similar to 19.3) and so can be studied immediately with high-resolution photometric and spectroscopic observations that can further clarify the nature of the system. The planet was found as part of a new program of high-cadence follow-up observations of high-magnification events. The detection of this planet, despite the considerable difficulties imposed by COVID-19 (two KMT sites and OGLE were shut down), illustrates the potential utility of this program.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Research In Astronomy And Astrophysics

Recommended Citation

De Almeida, L., Gould, A., Han, C., Kondo, I., Lee, C., Mao, S., Shvartzvald, Y., Yee, J. C., Zang, W., & Zhang, X. (2021). An Earth-Mass Planet In A Time Of Covid-19: Kmt-2020-Blg-0414Lb. Research In Astronomy And Astrophysics, 21 (9) https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-4527/21/9/239