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Accurate evolutions of orbiting black-hole binaries without excision
M Campanelli1, C O Lousto, P Marronetti
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, The University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|April 12, 2006
Summary
A new algorithm evolves orbiting black-hole binaries without excision or corotating shift. This stable, nonsingular method handles puncture factors, accurately simulating binary black hole mergers.
Area of Science:
- Numerical Relativity
- Astrophysical Black Holes
- Gravitational Wave Astronomy
Background:
- Simulating black-hole binaries is crucial for understanding gravitational waves.
- Existing methods often require complex techniques like excision or corotating shifts.
- Handling singularities in Einstein's equations remains a computational challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel algorithm for simulating orbiting black-hole binaries.
- To avoid the need for excision or corotating shifts in the simulation.
- To ensure numerical stability and accuracy throughout the binary evolution.
Main Methods:
- Developed a new technique to manage the singular puncture conformal factor.
- Utilized the Baumgarte-Shapiro-Shibata-Nakamura formulation of Einstein's equations.
- Employed a "precollapsed" initial lapse and careful gauge selection for stability.
Main Results:
- Successfully evolved orbiting black-hole binaries from near the innermost stable circular orbit.
- Demonstrated fourth-order convergence for waveform accuracy.
- Computed radiated gravitational energy and angular momentum, showing good agreement with the Lazarus approach.
Conclusions:
- The new algorithm provides a stable and nonsingular method for black-hole binary evolution.
- It simplifies simulations by eliminating the need for excision or corotating shifts.
- The approach is accurate and reliable for studying binary black hole mergers and gravitational wave emission.
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