• Featured in Physics

Understanding the “Antikick” in the Merger of Binary Black Holes

Luciano Rezzolla, Rodrigo P. Macedo, and José Luis Jaramillo
Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 221101 – Published 3 June 2010
Physics logo

Abstract

The generation of a large recoil velocity from the inspiral and merger of binary black holes represents one of the most exciting results of numerical-relativity calculations. While many aspects of this process have been investigated and explained, the “antikick,” namely, the sudden deceleration after the merger, has not yet found a simple explanation. We show that the antikick can be understood in terms of the radiation from a deformed black hole where the anisotropic curvature distribution on the horizon correlates with the direction and intensity of the recoil. Our analysis is focused on Robinson-Trautman spacetimes and allows us to measure both the energies and momenta radiated in a gauge-invariant manner. At the same time, this simpler setup provides the qualitative and quantitative features of merging black holes, opening the way to a deeper understanding of the nonlinear dynamics of black-hole spacetimes.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 3 March 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.221101

©2010 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Luciano Rezzolla1,2, Rodrigo P. Macedo1,3, and José Luis Jaramillo1,4

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Albert Einstein Institut, Potsdam, Germany
  • 2Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
  • 3Instituto de Física, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • 4Laboratoire Univers et Théories, Observatoire de Paris, CNRS, Meudon, France

See Also

Why Black Holes Slow Down

Lisa Grossman
Phys. Rev. Focus 25, 22 (2010)

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 104, Iss. 22 — 4 June 2010

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×