Zoom-Whirl Orbits in Black Hole Binaries

Details Zoom-Whirl Orbits in Black Hole Binaries Zoom-Whirl Orbits in Black Hole Binaries

2009-07-03

arxiv.org/abs/0907.0671v2

Phys.Rev.Lett.103:131101,2009

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology

Replaced with published version

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.131101

Zoom-whirl behavior has the reputation of being a rare phenomenon. The concern has been that gravitational radiation would drain angular momentum so rapidly that generic orbits would circularize before zoom-whirl behavior could play out, and only rare highly tuned orbits would retain their imprint. Using full numerical relativity, we catch zoom-whirl behavior despite dissipation. The larger the mass ratio, the longer the pair can spend in orbit before merging and therefore the more zooms and whirls seen. Larger spins also enhance zoom-whirliness. An important implication is that these eccentric orbits can merge during a whirl phase, before enough angular momentum has been lost to truly circularize the orbit. Waveforms will be modulated by the harmonics of zoom-whirls, showing quiet phases during zooms and louder glitches during whirls.

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