Evolution of binary black-hole spacetimes

Area of Science:

• Astrophysics
• Numerical Relativity
• Gravitational Wave Astronomy

Background:

• Binary black hole mergers are key sources of gravitational waves.
• Accurate simulations are crucial for understanding these events and testing general relativity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present early success in evolving binary black hole spacetimes using a generalized harmonic coordinates numerical code.
• To demonstrate the code's capability in simulating the orbit, merger, and gravitational wave emission of binary black holes.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of a numerical code based on a generalization of harmonic coordinates.
• Simulation of a binary system composed of two equal mass, nonspinning black holes.

Main Results:

• Successful evolution of a binary black hole system through plunge, merger, and ringdown.
• Estimation of the final black hole as a Kerr black hole with angular momentum parameter a ≈ 0.70.
• Preliminary calculation suggests ~5% of initial rest mass radiated as gravitational waves.

Conclusions:

• The generalized harmonic coordinates numerical code shows promise for simulating binary black hole mergers.
• Further resolution is needed for accurate energy emission estimates and detailed gravitational wave extraction.
• The simulation provides insights into the dynamics and gravitational wave output of binary black hole mergers.