Sleeping giants: the Galactic population of dormant black holes and neutron stars

Katelyn Breivik (Carnegie Mellon University)

May 09, 2024

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Abstract: The properties of stellar-origin compact objects are directly connected to the evolutionary history of the stellar progenitors that form them. Since most stars with masses large enough to reach core collapse are born with at least one companion, understanding how compact objects form relies on understanding the products of binary-star interactions. In this seminar, I’ll review how binary-star interactions shape compact-object-hosting populations and discuss how astrometric searches for binary-star systems are uncovering a burgeoning population of non-accreting neutron stars and black holes in binaries with stellar companions. I’ll conclude with a discussion on lessons to be learned from this new population and forecasts for upcoming astrometric data releases.