Speaker
Description
Microlensing is currently the only observational method to detect isolated stellar mass black holes. However, microlensing light curve alone does not allow to disentangle the mass from the distance to the lens. Astrometric follow up of microlensing using HST has recently produced the first tangible isolated BH mass measurement, but at a large observational cost. We argue the recently demonstrated new capabilities of VLTI to follow up interferometricaly microlens events is the best way to go after isolated BH lenses. We will present recent VLTI microlensing observations, based on which we can extrapolate isolated stellar BH detection capabilities for mass and proper motion, which we believe are more efficient and more precise than other astrometric methods. This new observational capability is a unique window into isolated low mass stellar dark remnants, which population is not constrained today by GW detectors.
