Dynamical Formation and Evolution of Compact Binaries

致密双星的动态形成和演化

• 批准号: 0601995
• 负责人: Frederic Rasio
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Northwestern University
• 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 2010-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0601995&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dynamical; Formation; Evolution; Compact; Binaries

Relativistic binary systems, in which two compact stars orbit each other in a very tight orbit, are among the most important sources of gravitational radiation for current laser interferometer detectors such as LIGO. The theoretical study of gravitational wave sources is crucial for the interpretation of data to be collected by the interferometers, and for the planning of future, more advanced detectors. This project consists of two closely related studies: (1) Numerical calculations of the final mergers of compact binary systems containing a black hole and a neutron star. These are to be performed using a sophisticated 3-D relativistic hydrodynamic code and as part of a new collaboratione between Northwestern and Penn State University. The new hydrodynamic calculations represent a significant improvement over previous, more approximate treatments based on Newtonian gravity. (2) Stellar dynamical simulations of black holes in dense star clusters. Frequent dynamical interactions in these systems can lead to the formation of large numbers of coalescing black hole binaries and may represent a dominant source of detectable stellar black hole mergers for gravitational wave detectors.The study of coalescing compact binaries is important in many other areas of astrophysics, such as gamma-ray bursts, and the production of heavy elements in galaxies. The stellar dynamics and relativistic hydrodynamics computer codes to be developed are general tools, which are useful for studying many other problems involving relativistic stars and fluids. This research involves the training of several undergraduate students, including students from under-represented minorities, and one graduate student. Outreach activities will take advantage of the resources of the nearby Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago, allowing the results and methodology to be presented to a large and diverse public.

相对论双星系统中的两颗致密恒星在非常紧密的轨道上相互绕转，是当前激光干涉仪探测器（例如 LIGO）最重要的引力辐射源之一。引力波源的理论研究对于解释干涉仪收集的数据以及规划未来更先进的探测器至关重要。该项目由两项密切相关的研究组成：（1）包含黑洞和中子星的致密双星系统最终合并的数值计算。这些将使用复杂的 3-D 相对论流体动力学代码来执行，并且是西北大学和宾夕法尼亚州立大学之间新合作的一部分。新的流体动力学计算比以前基于牛顿重力的更近似的处理方法有了显着的改进。 (2)致密星团中黑洞的恒星动力学模拟。这些系统中频繁的动力相互作用可能导致大量聚结黑洞双星的形成，并且可能代表引力波探测器可探测到的恒星黑洞合并的主要来源。聚结致密双星的研究在天体物理学的许多其他领域（例如伽马射线爆发和星系中重元素的产生）非常重要。待开发的恒星动力学和相对论流体动力学计算机代码是通用工具，可用于研究涉及相对论恒星和流体的许多其他问题。这项研究涉及培训几名本科生，包括来自代表性不足的少数族裔的学生和一名研究生。外展活动将利用附近芝加哥阿德勒天文馆和天文博物馆的资源，向广大多元化公众展示研究结果和方法。