DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/SZ9P-R710
Defense Date
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Physics and Applied Physics
First Advisor
Dr. Robert Gowdy
Second Advisor
Dr. Joseph Reiner
Third Advisor
Dr. Ghidewon Abay-Asmerom
Abstract
A gravitational microlensing event occurs when a foreground star passes near our line of site to a background source star. The foreground star acts as a lens, perturbing the image of the source star and amplifying the apparent intensity. Because the lens is in motion relative to the source star, the amplification is a function in time, resulting in a characteristic microlensing light curve. If the lens happens to have a planetary companion, the resulting light curve will be perturbed due the planet and the characteristics of the binary system can be ascertained.
Rights
© Wesley M Barnes
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-12-2017