Is Galactic Structure Compatible with Microlensing Data? | Zendy

James Binney | Zendy; Nicolai Bissantz | Zendy; Ortwin Gerhard | Zendy

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Is Galactic Structure Compatible with Microlensing Data?

Author(s) -

James Binney,

Nicolai Bissantz,

Ortwin Gerhard

Publication year - 2000

Publication title -

the astrophysical journal

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.376

H-Index - 489

eISSN - 1538-4357

pISSN - 0004-637X

DOI - 10.1086/312767

Subject(s) - gravitational microlensing , physics , bulge , galactic center , astrophysics , galaxy rotation curve , astronomy , light curve , rotation (mathematics) , geometry , galaxy , galaxy formation and evolution , mathematics

We generalize to elliptical models the argument of Kuijken (1997), whichconnects the microlensing optical depth towards the Galactic bulge to theGalactic rotation curve. When applied to the latest value from the MACHOcollaboration for the optical depth for microlensing of bulge sources, theargument implies that the Galactic bar cannot plausibly reconcile the measuredvalues of the optical depth, the rotation curve and the local mass density.Either there is a problem with the interpretation of the microlensing data, orour line of sight to the Galactic centre is highly atypical in that it passesthrough a massive structure that wraps only a small distance around theGalactic centre.Comment: Submitted to ApJ Letters. 8 pages LaTeX, 3 figures. Corrected error in description of microlensing observation

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