Numerical Simulations and Observations

该奖项支持一些与双黑洞的计算机模拟，它们产生的引力波以及这些波形与LIGO数据分析的接口相关的项目。项目包括对不等质量、旋转和偏心双星的双黑洞系统进行建模，提供波形，包括基于引力波数据分析中使用的测量对其质量进行评估，向天体物理学家提供有关黑洞反冲速度和旋转的关键信息，估计数字生成的双黑洞波形的模板空间，并通过简化的实验探索波形背后的物理学，如扭曲的黑洞和黑洞在强引力波的存在下进化。另一个目标是加强和加速数值相对论和数据分析之间的联系，并通过研究与公众建立更紧密的联系。 该奖项支持的跨学科项目将数值相对论应用于天体物理学和数据分析，为培养下一代引力波物理学家提供了理想的基础。 该项目包括一个利用公众对黑洞的兴奋的推广计划-以公众可以访问的格式在网络上发布在追求双黑洞合并过程中产生的图像和电影，并为公众提供与此主题相关的其他资源的链接。即将到来的引力波探测将打开一个新的宇宙窗口。 像激光干涉引力波天文台（LIGO）这样的设施现在正在运行和搜索天空。 成功寻找引力波的基础是对产生引力波的源进行理论建模。 在过去的一年里，数值相对论已经开始成功地解决爱因斯坦关于引力波最强源的引力方程，最后几个轨道和两个黑洞的坠落。 结合引力波探测，这些模型通过解释大自然告诉我们的引力来探索广义相对论的奥秘。 考虑到演化黑洞双星所需的时间和计算成本，随着探索更多的参数空间，成本将增加，数值相对论和数据分析的耦合变得越来越重要。

This award supports a number of projects related to computer simulation of binary black holes, the gravitational waves they produce, and the interface of these waveforms with LIGO data analysis. Projects include modeling binary black hole systems of unequal-mass, spinning and eccentric binaries, providing waveforms including assessments of their quality based on measures used in gravitational-wave data analysis, providing crucial information about black-hole kick velocities and spins to astrophysicists, estimating the template space for numerically generated, binary-black-hole waveforms, and exploring the physics behind the waveforms through reduced experiments like distorted black holes and black holes evolved in the presence of a strong gravitational wave. An additional goal is to enhance and accelerate the connection between numerical relativity and data analysis and build stronger ties to the general public through research. The interdisciplinary projects supported by this award, applying numerical relativity to astrophysics and data analysis, form an ideal ground for training the next generation of gravitational-wave physicists. The project includes an outreach plan that capitalizes on the excitement the public has for black holes---publishing the images and movies that are generated in the pursuit of binary-black-hole mergers on the web in a format accessible to the general public, with links to other resources for the public on this topic.The imminent detection of gravitational waves will open a new window on the universe. Facilities such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) are now operational and searching the sky. Fundamental to the success of the search for gravitational waves is the theoretical modeling of the sources that produce them. Over the past year, numerical relativity has begun to successfully solve Einstein's equations governing gravity for the strongest source of gravitational waves, the final few orbits and plunge of two black holes. Taken together with gravitational wave detection, these models probe the mysteries of general relativity by interpreting what nature is telling us about gravity. Given the time and computational cost necessary to evolve the black hole binaries, a cost that will increase as more of the parameter space is explored, the coupling of numerical relativity and data analysis becomes increasingly important.