PIRSA:06040024

Simulation of Binary Black Hole Mergers

Pretorius, F. (2006). Simulation of Binary Black Hole Mergers. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/06040024

Pretorius, Frans. Simulation of Binary Black Hole Mergers. Perimeter Institute, Apr. 26, 2006, https://pirsa.org/06040024 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:06040024,
            doi = {10.48660/06040024},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/06040024},
            author = {Pretorius, Frans},
            keywords = {Cosmology},
            language = {en},
            title = {Simulation of Binary Black Hole Mergers},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2006},
            month = {apr},
            note = {PIRSA:06040024 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

Frans Pretorius Princeton University

Talk numberPIRSA:06040024
DOI10.48660/06040024
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

I will describe some recent advances in the simulation of binary black hole spacetimes using a numerical scheme based on generalized harmonic coordinates. After a brief overview of the formalism and method, I will present results from the evolution of a couple of classes of initial data, including Cook-Pfieffer quasi-circular inspiral data sets, and binaries constructed via scalar field collapse. In the latter case, preliminary studies suggest that in certain regions of parameter space there is extreme sensitivity of the resulting orbit to the initial conditions. In this regime the equal mass black holes exhibit behavior reminiscent of "zoom-whirl" particle trajectories in the test-mass limit.