The Tip of the Iceberg - Unveiling the Origin of NSBH Mergers Through Eccentric Outliers

Explore the origins of neutron star-black hole (NSBH) mergers through eccentric outliers in this 16-minute conference talk. Delve into how gravitational wave detections are revolutionizing our understanding of the stellar mass black hole population, while examining complementary discoveries from Gaia's dormant black holes in detached binaries, microlensing observations of isolated black holes, and time domain surveys detecting transients from black hole formation and interactions. Learn how these diverse detection methods are revealing new black hole populations that complement traditional X-ray and radio survey findings. Examine the complete lifecycle of stellar black holes, from their massive star progenitors through core collapse and associated transients, to their afterlives as dormant or accreting objects, and their potential finale as gravitational wave sources during mergers. Discover how recent observational findings are driving the development of new theoretical and observational strategies to address fundamental questions about stellar black hole evolution and the specific mechanisms behind NSBH merger formation.