Binary black holes in circular orbits. II. Numerical methods and first results

Details Binary black holes in circular orbits. II. Numerical methods and first results Binary black holes in circular orbits. II. Numerical methods and first results

2001-06-05

arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0106016v4

Phys.Rev. D65 (2002) 044021

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

27 pages, 20 PostScript figures, improved presentation of the regularization procedure for the shift vector, new section devot

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevD.65.044021

We present the first results from a new method for computing spacetimes representing corotating binary black holes in circular orbits. The method is based on the assumption of exact equilibrium. It uses the standard 3+1 decomposition of Einstein equations and conformal flatness approximation for the 3-metric. Contrary to previous numerical approaches to this problem, we do not solve only the constraint equations but rather a set of five equations for the lapse function, the conformal factor and the shift vector. The orbital velocity is unambiguously determined by imposing that, at infinity, the metric behaves like the Schwarzschild one, a requirement which is equivalent to the virial theorem. The numerical scheme has been implemented using multi-domain spectral methods and passed numerous tests. A sequence of corotating black holes of equal mass is calculated. Defining the sequence by requiring that the ADM mass decrease is equal to the angular momentum decrease multiplied by the orbital angular velocity, it is found that the area of the apparent horizons is constant along the sequence. We also find a turning point in the ADM mass and angular momentum curves, which may be interpreted as an innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO). The values of the global quantities at the ISCO, especially the orbital velocity, are in much better agreement with those from third post-Newtonian calculations than with those resulting from previous numerical approaches.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Binary black holes in circular orbits. II. Numerical methods and first results does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Binary black holes in circular orbits. II. Numerical methods and first results, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Binary black holes in circular orbits. II. Numerical methods and first results will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-595350