Gravitational Waves, Radiation Reaction, and Black Hole Systems

引力波、辐射反应和黑洞系统

• 批准号: 0555484
• 负责人: Steven Detweiler
• 金额: $ 16万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-08-01 至 2009-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0555484&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Gravitational; Waves; Radiation; Reaction; Black

The search for gravitational waves is already opening a new window on the universe and will allow new tests of our current theory of gravity. Sources of these waves are among the most extreme astrophysical systems imaginable the in the whole universe. They include binary systems of black holes and neutron stars, and stars orbiting and eventually spiralling into very large black holes. New methods of analysis will be developed to describe the dynamical evolution of these systems as they emit energy in the form of gravitational waves.Current descriptions of binary sources of gravitational waves are based on approximations of small speeds and weak gravitational fields. They begin to break down just when the physical system is at its most interesting, as the objects approach each other in their final stage of coalescence. New, accurate theoretical predictions will be developed, and will provide important guidance to experimental effort leading toward the detection of gravitational waves and the characterization of their sources.This research will have a broad impact upon our understanding of General Relativity to extreme astrophysical systems. Through the rigorous training of students, it will also have an impact upon science education, appreciation, and its public understanding, at all levels. People from all walks of life seem fascinated by physics examples involving black holes or cosmology. Four graduate students and an undergraduate are deeply involved in this project. They have the opportunity to develop sophisticated computational skills and to learn by the experience of doing. They will be able to follow other former students into the scientific research profession.

对引力波的探索已经为我们打开了一扇了解宇宙的新窗口，并将对我们目前的引力理论进行新的检验。这些波的来源是整个宇宙中可以想象的最极端的天体物理系统之一。它们包括黑洞和中子星的双星系统，以及绕轨道运行并最终螺旋进入非常大的黑洞的恒星。新的分析方法将被开发来描述这些系统的动力学演化，因为它们以引力波的形式发射能量。目前对引力波的二元源的描述是基于小速度和弱引力场的近似。 它们开始分解的时候，正是物理系统最有趣的时候，也就是物体在最后的聚合阶段相互接近的时候。 新的、准确的理论预测将被开发出来，并将为引力波的探测及其源的表征提供重要的实验指导，这项研究将对我们对广义相对论的理解产生广泛的影响。 通过对学生的严格培训，它还将对各级科学教育、欣赏和公众理解产生影响。各行各业的人似乎对涉及黑洞或宇宙学的物理学例子着迷。四名研究生和一名本科生深入参与了这个项目。 他们有机会发展复杂的计算技能，并从实践中学习。 他们将能够跟随其他以前的学生进入科学研究行业。