Evolution of Binary Black-Hole Spacetimes

Frans Pretorius
Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 121101 – Published 14 September 2005
An article within the collection: 2015 - General Relativity’s Centennial

Abstract

We describe early success in the evolution of binary black-hole spacetimes with a numerical code based on a generalization of harmonic coordinates. Indications are that with sufficient resolution this scheme is capable of evolving binary systems for enough time to extract information about the orbit, merger, and gravitational waves emitted during the event. As an example we show results from the evolution of a binary composed of two equal mass, nonspinning black holes, through a single plunge orbit, merger, and ringdown. The resultant black hole is estimated to be a Kerr black hole with angular momentum parameter a0.70. At present, lack of resolution far from the binary prevents an accurate estimate of the energy emitted, though a rough calculation suggests on the order of 5% of the initial rest mass of the system is radiated as gravitational waves during the final orbit and ringdown.

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  • Received 6 July 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.121101

©2005 American Physical Society

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2015 - General Relativity’s Centennial

The editors of the Physical Review journals have curated a collection of landmark papers on General Relativity to celebrate its centennial.

Authors & Affiliations

Frans Pretorius*

  • Theoretical Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
  • Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J1 Canada

  • *Also affiliated with the CIAR Cosmology and Gravity Program.

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Issue

Vol. 95, Iss. 12 — 16 September 2005

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