Completing the Census of Exoplanetary Systems with Microlensing

Measurements of the demographics of exoplanets over a range of planet and

host star properties provide fundamental empirical constraints on theories of planet formation and evolution.  Because of its unique sensitivity to low-mass, long-period, and free-floating planets, microlensing is an essential complement to our arsenal of planet detection methods. 

Dr. Gaudi will review the microlensing method, and discuss results to date from ground-based microlensing surveys.   Finally, Dr. Gaudi will motivate a space-based microlensing survey with WFIRST-AFTA, which when combined with the results from Kepler, will yield a nearly complete picture of the demographics of planetary systems throughout the Galaxy.

Speaker: Scott Gaudi, Ohio State University