Open AccessMicrolensing in phase space – I. Continuous propagation of variability moments
Author(s) -
Tuntsov A. V.,
Lewis G. F.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2006.10441.x
Subject(s) - physics , gravitational microlensing , limit (mathematics) , light curve , astrophysics , flux (metallurgy) , star (game theory) , statistical physics , line of sight , stars , mathematical analysis , materials science , metallurgy , mathematics
A method to calculate the statistical properties of microlensing light curves is developed. The approach follows works by Deguchi & Watson, Seitz & Schneider and Neindorf, attempting to clarify the ideas involved and techniques used in the calculations. The method is then modified to include scattering by multiple lensing planes along the line of sight and transition to a continuous limit of this treatment for average quantities is performed leading to a Fokker–Planck‐type equation. The equation is solved for a particular model of the random star field and microlensing effect on the flux temporal variability is extracted. Applications in astrophysically relevant situations are discussed.