AGAPE: a Microlensing Search for Dark Matter by Monitoring Pixels
Abstract
AGAPE is an observational search of massive compact halo objects (MACHOs) in the direction of M31 by means of a novel method: the gravitational microlensing of unresolved stars. The search consists in examining CCD pixel light curves for microlensing features. The high level of temporal stability necessary to detect microlensing events has been achieved, with quiet pixels stable within a factor of two of the photon noise (the brightest ones down to a level of 0.001 mag). The data analysis is still in progress, but hundreds of variable objects (cepheids, novae, ...) have already been found. Among them there are several lightcurves that resemble microlensing events.
Cite
@article{arxiv.astro-ph/9610010,
title = {AGAPE: a Microlensing Search for Dark Matter by Monitoring Pixels},
author = {P. Gondolo and R. Ansari and M. Auriere and P. Baillon and A. Bouquet and G. Coupinot and Ch. Coutures and C. Ghesquiere and Y. Giraud-Heraud and J. Hecquet and J. Kaplan and Y. Le Du and A. L. Melchior and M. Moniez and J. P. Picat and G. Soucail},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:astro-ph/9610010},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
presented at the International Conference on "Dark and Visible Matter in Galaxies" (Sesto Pusteria, Italy, 2-5 July 1996), 8 pages, 7 figures, uses paspconf.sty, psfig.sty