73625238
1318 new variable stars in a 0.25 square degree region of the Galactic plane
We conducted a deep photometric survey of a 0.5 ◦ × 0.5 ◦ area of the Galactic plane using the WFI instrument on the 2.2-m ESO telescope on La Silla, Chile. The dataset comprises a total of 267 R-band images, 204 from a 16 day observation run in 2005, supplemented by 63 images from a six week period in 2002. Our reduction employed the new numerical kernel difference image analysis method as implemented in the pysis3 code and resulted in more than 500 000 lightcurves of stars down to a magnitude limit of R ∼ 24.5. A search for variable stars resulted in the detection of 1318 variables of different types. 1011 of these are eclipsing or contact binary stars. A number of the contact binaries have low mass-ratios and several of the detached binaries appear to have low-mass components. Three candidate contact binaries have periods at the known cut off including two with periods lower than any previously published. Also identified are 3 possible pre-main sequence detached eclipsing binaries.
16941683
Microlensing Constraints on the Frequency of Jupiter-Mass Companions: Analysis of 5 Years of PLANET Photometry
We analyze 5 years of PLANET photometry of microlensing events toward the Galactic bulge to search for the short-duration deviations from single-lens light curves that are indicative of the presence of planetary companions to the primary microlenses. Using strict event-selection criteria, we construct a well-defined sample of 43 intensively monitored events. We search for planetary perturbations in these events over a densely sampled region of parameter space spanning two decades in mass ratio and projected separation, but find no viable planetary candidates. By combining the detection efficiencies of the events, we find that, at 95% confidence, less than 25% of our primary lenses have companions with mass ratio q = 10-2 and separations in the lensing zone, [0.6-1.6]θE, where θE is the Einstein ring radius. Using a model of the mass, velocity, and spatial distribution of bulge lenses, we infer that the majority of our lenses are likely M dwarfs in the Galactic bulge. We conclude that less than 33% of M dwarfs in the Galactic bulge have companions with mass mp = MJ between 1.5 and 4 AU, and less than 45% have companions with mp = 3MJ between 1 and 7 AU, the first significant limits on planetary companions to M dwarfs. We consider the effects of the finite size of the source stars and changing our detection criterion, but find that these do not alter our conclusions substantially.
2974286
First microlens mass measurement: Planet photometry of EROS BLG-2000-5
We analyze PLANET photometric observations of the caustic-crossing binary lens microlensing event, EROS BLG-2000-5, and find that modeling the observed light curve requires incorporation of the microlens parallax and the binary orbital motion. The projected Einstein radius (E = 3.61 ± 0.11 AU) is derived from the measurement of the microlens parallax, and we are also able to infer the angular Einstein radius (θE = 1.38 ± 0.12 mas) from the finite source effect on the light curve, combined with an estimate of the angular size of the source given by the source position in a color-magnitude diagram. The lens mass, M = 0.612 ± 0.057 M☉, is found by combining these two quantities. This is the first time that parallax effects are detected for a caustic-crossing event and also the first time that the lens mass degeneracy has been completely broken through photometric monitoring alone. The combination of E and θE also allows us to conclude that the lens lies in the near side of the disk, within 2.6 kpc of the Sun, while the radial velocity measurement indicates that the source is a Galactic bulge giant.
119441536
Early estimation of microlensing event magnifications
Gravitational microlensing events with high peak magnifications provide a much-enhanced sensitivity to the detection of planets around the lens star. However, estimates of peak magnification during the early stages of an event by means of χ2 minimization frequently involve an overprediction, making observing campaigns with strategies that rely on these predictions inefficient. I show that a rudimentary Bayesian formulation, incorporating the known statistical characteristics of a detection system, produces much more accurate predictions of peak magnification than χ2 minimization. Implementation of this system will allow efficient follow-up observing programs that focus solely on events that contribute to planetary abundance statistics.
55031010
Difference image analysis: extension to a spatially varying photometric scale factor and other considerations
We present a general framework for matching the point-spread function (PSF), photometric scaling and sky background between two images, a subject which is commonly referred to as difference image analysis (DIA). We introduce the new concept of a spatially varying photometric scale factor which will be important for DIA applied to wide-field imaging data in order to adapt to transparency and airmass variations across the field-of-view. Furthermore, we demonstrate how to separately control the degree of spatial variation of each kernel basis function, the photometric scale factor and the differential sky background. We discuss the common choices for kernel basis functions within our framework, and we introduce the mixed-resolution delta basis functions to address the problem of the size of the least-squares problem to be solved when using delta basis functions. We validate and demonstrate our algorithm on simulated and real data. We also describe a number of useful optimizations that may be capitalized on during the construction of the least-squares matrix and which have not been reported previously. We pay special attention to presenting a clear notation for the DIA equations which are set out in a way that will hopefully encourage developers to tackle the implementation of DIA software.
119493694
H alpha equivalent width variations across the face of a microlensed K giant in the galactic bulge
We present Very Large Telescope FORS1 spectroscopy that temporally resolves the second caustic crossing of the Galactic bulge K giant source of microlensing event EROS 2000-BLG-5, the first time this has been accomplished for several phases of a caustic transit. The similar to1 Angstrom H alpha equivalent width of the source star increases slightly as the center of the star egresses the caustic and then plummets by 30% during the final limb crossing. These changes are not seen in contemporaneous spectra of control stars in the FORS1 slit but are qualitatively consistent with expectations from stellar atmosphere models as the caustic differentially magnifies different portions of the stellar face of the target. Observations such as these in a variety of stellar lines are equivalent to atmospheric tomography and are expected to provide a direct test of stellar models.
120035521
Double pomeron exchange at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings and $Sp\bar{p}S$ Collider
The CERN Intersecting Storage Rings, with from 22 GeV to 63 GeV and , allowed the first observations of p + p → p + X + p with two leading protons (xF > 0.95) or two rapidity gaps Δy > 3. Studies of the central hadronic system (X) were made to search for glueballs, finding f0 and f2 resonances, and to advance our understanding of hadronic diffraction. I review the experiments, not including those at the Split Field Magnet (SFM) facility covered elsewhere in this volume. Some double pomeron exchange studies at the CERN Collider are also covered.
22405819
A search for narrow resonances in proton-proton collisions at 53 GeV centre-of-mass energy
Abstract A search for narrow resonances produced in pp collisions at the CERN ISR has been carried out using two magnetic spectrometers to measure and identify two-final-state charged hadrons. The resultant two-particle invariant mass spectra show no strong structure suggesting any new narrow resonance. The statistical significance of various enhancements seen in the data is discussed, and upper limits on the cross section times branching ratio for new particle production are presented.
121203244
Polarization in elastic antiproton-proton scattering between 0.9 and 2.5 GeV/c
Abstract Polarization and differential cross-section data are presented for elastic scattering of antiprotons on polarized protons at eight momenta between 0.9 and 2.5 GeV/ c . The data are fitted with a diffraction model.
122810434
Particle production ratios at 21, 31, 45 and 53 GeV in the centre of mass
Abstract Particle production ratios have been measured for π ± , K ± , p and p at the CERN ISR.
56054207
Double Pomeron Exchange: from the ISR to the LHC
I discuss Double Pomeron Exchange processes from their first observation at the CERN Intersecting Storage Rings, focusing on glueball searches, through the observations of exclusive χc0, γγ and di‐jets at the Tevatron, to prospects at the LHC for exclusive Higgs boson production.