Finding and Characterizing Isolated Black Holes with Microlensing

Explore how gravitational microlensing serves as a powerful tool for detecting and studying isolated black holes that remain invisible through traditional observational methods. Learn about the revolutionary impact of gravitational wave detections on understanding stellar mass black hole populations and discover how Gaia observations are revealing dormant black holes in binary systems. Examine the complementary nature of various detection methods including time domain surveys that search for transients marking black hole formation and interactions with stellar companions. Understand how these diverse observational approaches are unveiling new black hole populations that extend beyond the accreting systems previously known from X-ray and radio surveys. Gain insights into the complete 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. Discover current observational and theoretical strategies being developed to address fundamental questions about stellar black hole evolution and characterization through microlensing techniques.