Numerical Simulations and Observations

该奖项支持许多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来评估它们的质量，为天体物理学家提供关于黑洞踢动速度和自旋的关键信息，估计数值生成的双黑洞波形的模板空间，并通过一些简化的实验来探索波形背后的物理学，比如扭曲的黑洞和在强引力波存在下进化的黑洞。另一个目标是加强和加速数值相对论与数据分析之间的联系，并通过研究与公众建立更牢固的联系。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。该项目包括一项利用公众对黑洞的兴奋感的推广计划——在网上以公众可访问的格式发布在追求双黑洞合并过程中产生的图像和电影，并为公众提供有关该主题的其他资源的链接。即将到来的引力波探测将打开一扇研究宇宙的新窗口。像激光干涉仪引力波天文台（LIGO）这样的设施现在已经投入使用，并在天空中进行搜索。寻找引力波成功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的引力方程，这些方程适用于最强的引力波源、最后几个轨道和两个黑洞的撞击。结合引力波探测，这些模型通过解释大自然告诉我们的关于引力的信息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，随着更多参数空间的探索，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.