Globular clusters as microlensing targets |
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Authors: | Geza Gyuk & Gilbert P Holder |
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Institution: | SISSA, via Beirut 2–4, 34014 Trieste, Italy,;Department of Astronomy &38;Astrophysics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA |
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Abstract: | We investigate the possibility of using globular clusters as targets for microlensing searches. Such searches will be challenging and require more powerful telescopes than now employed, but are feasible in the near future. Although expected event rates are low, we show that the wide variety of lines of sight to globular clusters greatly enhances the ability to distinguish between halo models using microlensing observations as compared with LMC/SMC observations alone. In particular, the halo core radius and power-law exponent can be determined with good accuracy. |
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Keywords: | globular clusters: general Galaxy: halo gravitational lensing |
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