Toward the Mass Function of Black Holes with Modern Observations of Microlensing Events

Explore the groundbreaking advancements in gravitational microlensing and their implications for understanding black hole populations in this 54-minute lecture by Dr. Przemysław Mróz from the Astronomical Observatory at the University of Warsaw. Delve into the recent discovery of the first isolated stellar-mass black hole in the Milky Way and learn how astrometric and interferometric observations of microlensing events enable the detection and characterization of isolated neutron stars and black holes. Examine the connection between LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA gravitational-wave detector discoveries and the population of massive black holes in our galaxy. Investigate the potential role of black holes of various sizes in constituting dark matter. Gain insights into cutting-edge astrophysical research that bridges gravitational wave astronomy with microlensing observations to unravel the mysteries of stellar remnants and their mass distribution in the Milky Way.