Unique Science from a Coordinated LSST-WFIRST Survey of the Galactic Bulge

Abstract

NASA's WFIRST mission will perform a wide-field, NIR survey of the Galactic Bulge to search for exoplanets via the microlensing techniques. As the mission is due to launch in the mid-2020s, around half-way through the LSST Main Survey, we have a unique opportunity to explore synergistic science from two landmark programs. LSST can survey the entire footprint of the WFIRST microlensing survey in a single Deep Drilling Field. Here we explore the great scientific potential of this proposal and recommend the most effective observing strategies.

White Paper submitted to the 2018 call for LSST cadence proposals. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1812.03137