Dark passengers in stellar surveys

Abstract

We develop stellar population models to predict the number of binaries with a single luminous member is Gaia and Hipparcos. Our models yield dozens of detections of black hole luminous companion (BHLC) binaries and hundreds to thousands of neutron star luminous companion (NSLC) binaries with Gaia. Interestingly, our models also yield a single detection of BHLC binary with Hipparcos, and a few NSLC binaries. We also show how the statistical distribution of detected binaries with a single luminous companion can be used to constrain the formation process of neutron stars and black holes.