Abstract
We study the coalescence of nonspinning binary black holes from near the innermost stable circular orbit down to the final single rotating black hole. We use a technique that combines the full numerical approach to solve the Einstein equations, applied in the truly nonlinear regime, and linearized perturbation theory around the final distorted single black hole at later times. We compute the plunge waveforms, which present a non-negligible signal lasting for showing early nonlinear ringing, and we obtain estimates for the total gravitational energy and angular momentum radiated.
- Received 9 February 2001
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.121103
©2001 American Physical Society