Improved Initial Data for Black-Hole Binaries

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This research seeks to construct the initial data for a pair of blackholes in an astrophysically realistic close binary system. This datarepresents the state of the binary system at an instant of time, andis the necessary starting point for determining the evolution of thesystem. Two new approaches for constructing the initial data will beexplored. Both approaches build into the data the idea that thesystems are nearly in equilibrium. However, the two approaches differdrastically in how the black holes themselves are treated.The collision of a pair of orbiting black holes is a dramatic eventthat we hope to detect soon in gravitational wave observatories suchas LIGO. Simulations, starting from binary black hole initial data,will provide the theoretical foundation for interpreting much of thedata obtained by LIGO. The detection of black holes with LIGO willoffer the most direct evidence possible for their existence, and willopen up an exciting new window for exploring the universe.