Binary Stars Take What They Get - Evidence for Efficient Mass Transfer from Stripped Stars with Rapidly Rotating Companions

Explore evidence for efficient mass transfer in binary star systems through this 16-minute conference talk examining how stripped stars with rapidly rotating companions contribute to our understanding of stellar evolution. Learn about the revolutionary impact of gravitational wave detections on stellar mass black hole population knowledge, discover how Gaia is revealing dormant black holes in detached binaries, and understand how microlensing probes isolated black holes that would otherwise remain unobservable. Examine findings from time domain surveys searching for transients that mark black hole formation or stellar companion interactions, and see how these discoveries are unveiling new populations that complement previously known accreting black holes from X-ray and radio surveys. Gain insights into the complete lifecycle of stellar black holes, from the complex evolution of massive star progenitors through core collapse and associated transients, to their existence as dormant or accreting black holes, and their potential finale as gravitational wave sources during mergers. This presentation is part of a broader conference bringing together observational and theoretical perspectives to address urgent questions about stellar black hole evolution, coordinated by Maya Fishbach, Jessica Lu, Selma de Mink, and Tejaswi Venumadhav at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics.