A Spectroscopic Search for Dormant Black Holes in Low-Metallicity Binaries

Explore a cutting-edge spectroscopic approach to detecting dormant black holes in low-metallicity binary systems through this 17-minute conference talk by Pranav Nagarajan from Caltech. Discover how gravitational wave detections are transforming our understanding of stellar mass black hole populations, while Gaia observations reveal new dormant black holes in detached binaries with stellar companions. Learn about the complementary detection methods including microlensing for isolated black holes and time domain surveys for transient events marking black hole formation or stellar interactions. Examine how these revolutionary discoveries are unveiling black hole populations that complement the traditionally known accreting black holes from X-ray and radio surveys. Understand the comprehensive lifecycle of stellar black holes, from their massive star progenitors through core collapse and associated transients, to their existence as dormant or accreting objects, and their potential fate as gravitational wave sources during mergers. Gain insights into the latest observational findings and theoretical strategies being developed to address fundamental questions about stellar black hole evolution, presented as part of a broader scientific initiative coordinated by Maya Fishbach, Jessica Lu, Selma de Mink, and Tejaswi Venumadhav.