Real-Time Spectroscopy of Gravitational Microlensing Events - Probing the Evolution of the Galactic Bulge

Abstract

We describe a real-time spectroscopic program to observe bright gravitational microlensing events toward the Galactic Bulge. The program is carried out using the NTT at ESO. We present the preliminary analysis of the microlensing events we have observed thus far. We demonstrate that these data provide detailed information on the intrinsic properties of the source stars; radial velocities, atmospheric parameters, distances and abundances. A high priority objective of this campaign is to obtain spectra of highly magnified cool dwarfs and subgiants in order to investigate their chemical composition and by implication, the formation and evolution of the bulge. The data will also allow us to investigate the nature of the sources (and the lenses) which in turn may aid the interpretation of the observed optical depth towards the Bulge.