Four Cold Super-Jupiters Revealed by Extended and Complex Microlensing Signals

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Authors: Cheongho Han, Chung-Uk Lee, Michael D. Albrow, Sun-Ju Chung, Andrew Gould, Youn Kil Jung, Kyu- Ha Hwang, Yoon-Hyun Ryu, Yossi Shvartzvald, In-Gu Shin, Jennifer C. Yee, Weicheng Zang
+9 more Hongjing Yang, Doeon Kim, Dong-Jin Kim, Sang-Mok Cha, Seung-Lee Kim, Dong-Joo Lee, Yongseok Lee, Byeong-Gon Park, Richard W. Pogge
Cited by: 1
References: 25

Abstract

Abstract We present the analysis of four microlensing events, KMT-2020-BLG-0202, KMT-2022-BLG-1551, KMT-2023-BLG-0466, and KMT-2025-BLG-0121, which exhibit extended and complex anomalies in their light curves. These events were identified through a systematic reanalysis of KMTNet data aimed at detecting planetary signals that deviate from the typical short-term anomaly morphology. Detailed modeling indicates that all four anomalies were produced by planetary companions to low-mass stellar hosts. The events have mass ratios of q ∼ (5–14) × 10 −3 and Einstein timescales of t E ∼ 20–43 days. Bayesian analyses based on Galactic models show that the companions are super-Jupiters with masses of a few to approximately 10 M J , orbiting sub-solar-mass hosts located at distances of D L ∼ 4–7 kpc. All planets lie well beyond the snow line of their hosts, placing them in the regime of cold giant planets. These detections demonstrate that extended and complex microlensing anomalies, which are often challenging to recognize as planetary in origin, can nonetheless contain planetary signals. This work underscores the unique sensitivity of microlensing to cold, massive planets beyond the snow line and highlights the importance of systematic reanalyses of survey data for achieving a more complete and unbiased census of exoplanets in the Galaxy.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Stellar planetary and galactic studies Astronomy and Astrophysical Research Scientific Research and Discoveries

Publication details

Journal / source
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Volume
138
Issue
2
Pages
024401–024401
Publication date
1 February 2026