Improved methods for simulating nearly extremal binary black holes. (28th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Scheel, Mark A; Giesler, Matthew; Hemberger, Daniel A; Lovelace, Geoffrey; Kuper, Kevin; Boyle, Michael; Szilágyi, Béla; Kidder, Lawrence E
• Is Part Of: Classical and quantum gravity. Volume 32:Number 10(2015:May)
• Publication Date: 2015-04-28
• Subjects: numerical relativity -- black holes -- gravitational radiation -- compact binaries; Quantum gravity -- Periodicals; Gravitation -- Periodicals; Relativity (Physics) -- Periodicals; Space and time -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 521.1
• DOI: 10.1088/0264-9381/32/10/105009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-9381

Abstract

Abstract: Astrophysical black holes could be nearly extremal (that is, rotating nearly as fast as possible); therefore, nearly extremal black holes could be among the binaries that current and future gravitational-wave observatories will detect. Predicting the gravitational waves emitted by merging black holes requires numerical-relativity simulations, but these simulations are especially challenging when one or both holes have mass m and spin S exceeding the Bowen–York limit of . We present improved methods that enable us to simulate merging, nearly extremal black holes (i.e., black holes with ) more robustly and more efficiently. We use these methods to simulate an unequal-mass, precessing binary black hole (BBH) coalescence, where the larger black hole has . We also use these methods to simulate a non-precessing BBH coalescence, where both black holes have, nearly reaching the Novikov–Thorne upper bound for holes spun up by thin accretion disks. We demonstrate numerical convergence and estimate the numerical errors of the waveforms; we compare numerical waveforms from our simulations with post-Newtonian and effective-one-body waveforms; we compare the evolution of the black hole masses and spins with analytic predictions; and we explore the effect of increasing spin magnitude on the orbital dynamics (the so-called 'orbital hangup' effect).