Exploring Extreme Black Hole Binaries

这一奖项继续支持罗切斯特理工学院(RIT)的一项研究计划，该计划旨在对高度非线性状态下的合并黑洞双星进行建模。研究将集中在技术上困难的小质量比、高度自转和高度进动区域的双星，这需要在代码优化、规范条件、初始数据生成和混合数值/微扰技术方面取得新的发展。随着这些发展，该代码将用于生成大量的极端双星模拟，以便产生足够精度的波形，用于LIGO/Virgo数据分析、后牛顿近似波形的比较和验证，并对黑洞合并的天体物理后果进行建模。这个项目将直接受益于地面引力波探测器，如LIGO和Virgo，数值注入分析(NINJA)项目，看看数据分析师如何很好地恢复数字生成的波形，以及天体物理学中一个新兴的领域，天文学家在这个领域寻找合并和双星以及后坐黑洞的观测结果。最近的计算突破，部分归功于RIT团队的贡献，最终使数值相对论者能够有效地求解用于合并双星的爱因斯坦方程，并使在强场条件下进行引力波天文学成为可能。引力波天文学有望提供一种革命性的新宇宙观，补充电磁视角。此外，该奖项将用于通过为博士后和学生提供培训和指导机会，大大加强RIT的整体研究工作。该奖项还将允许继续开展教育和公共宣传方面的活动，包括旨在向弱势群体和代表性不足群体的青年介绍令人兴奋的科学发展和研究所和其他当地大学提供的机会的方案。

This award continues support for a research program at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to model merging black-hole binaries in the highly-nonlinear regime. Research will concentrate on binaries in the technically difficult small-mass-ratio, highly-spinning, and highly-precessing regimes, that requires new developments in code optimization, gauge conditions, initial data generation, and hybrid numerical / perturbative techniques. With these developments, the code will be used to generate a large number of simulations of extreme binaries in order to produce waveforms of sufficient accuracy for LIGO/Virgo data analysis, comparison and validation of Post-Newtonian approximate waveforms, and to model the astrophysical consequences of black-hole mergers. This project will directly benefit ground based gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO and Virgo, the Numerical INjection Analysis (NINJA) project to see how well numerically generated waveforms can be recovered by data analysts, and an emerging new field in astrophysics where astronomers search for the observational consequences of merging and binaries and recoiling black holes.Recent computational breakthroughs, due in part to the contributions of the RIT team, have finally allowed numerical relativists to efficiently solve the Einstein equations for coalescing binaries, and has made gravitational-wave astronomy in the strong-field regime possible. Gravitational-wave astronomy promises to provide a revolutionary new view of the universe, complementary to the electromagnetic perspective. In addition, this award will be used to greatly enhance the research effort at RIT as a whole by providing training and mentoring opportunities for postdocs and students. This award will also allow continuation of activities in education and public outreach, including programs designed to introduce youths from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups to exciting scientific developments and the opportunities offered by the Institute and other local colleges.