Modeling gravitational radiation from coalescing binary black holes

J. Baker, M. Campanelli, C. O. Lousto, and R. Takahashi
Phys. Rev. D 65, 124012 – Published 4 June 2002
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Abstract

With the goal of bringing theory, particularly numerical relativity, to bear on an astrophysical problem of critical interest to gravitational wave observers we introduce a model for coalescence radiation from binary black hole systems. We build our model using the Lazarus approach, a technique that bridges far and close limit approaches with full numerical relativity to solve Einstein equations applied in the truly nonlinear dynamical regime. We specifically study the post-orbital radiation from a system of equal-mass non-spinning black holes, deriving waveforms which indicate strongly circularly polarized radiation of roughly 3% of the system’s total energy and 12% of its total angular momentum in just a few cycles. To support this result we first establish the reliability of the late-time part of our model, including the numerical relativity and close-limit components, with a thorough study of waveforms from a sequence of black hole configurations that varies from previously treated head-on collisions to a representative target for “ISCO” data corresponding to the end of the inspiral period. We then complete our model with a simple treatment for the early part of the spacetime based on a standard family of initial data for binary black holes in circular orbit. A detailed analysis shows strong robustness in the results as the initial separation of the black holes is increased from 5.0 to 7.8M supporting our waveforms as a suitable basic description of the astrophysical radiation from this system. Finally, a simple fitting of the plunge waveforms is introduced as a first attempt to facilitate the task of analyzing data from gravitational wave detectors.

  • Received 20 February 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.65.124012

©2002 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. Baker1, M. Campanelli2, C. O. Lousto2,3, and R. Takahashi4

  • 1Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas 78520
  • 3Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio–CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • 4Theoretical Astrophysics Center, Dk-2100 København Ø, Denmark

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Vol. 65, Iss. 12 — 15 June 2002

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