title: Microlensing detection of extrasolar planets.
abstract: We review the method of exoplanetary microlensing with a focus on two-body planetary lensing systems. The physical properties of planetary systems can be successfully measured by means of a deep analysis of lightcurves and high-resolution imaging of planetary systems, countering the concern that microlensing cannot determine planetary masses and orbital radii. Ground-based observers have had success in diagnosing properties of multi-planet systems from a few events, but space-based observations will be much more powerful and statistically more complete. Since microlensing is most sensitive to exoplanets beyond the snow line, whose statistics, in turn, allow for testing current planetary formation and evolution theories, we investigate the retrieval of semi-major axis density by a microlensing space-based survey with realistic parameters. Making use of a published statistical method for projected exoplanets quantities (Brown 2011), we find that one year of such a survey might distinguish between simple power-law semi-major axis densities. We conclude by briefly reviewing ground-based results hinting at a high abundance of free-floating planets and describing the potential contribution of space-based missions to understanding the frequency and mass distribution of these intriguing objects, which could help unveil the formation processes of planetary systems.
authors.affiliation: Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, University of Heidelberg, Moenchhofstrasse 12-14, 69120 Heidelberg, Deutschland. emanuela@ari.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Jonathan I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Lunine