Problems in computational relativity

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The research supported by funds requested in this proposal will enable the numerical relativity group at UBC, lead by Choptuik, to maintain and build on its reputation as one of the world's leading centers for research in computational relativity. Computational relativity (a.k.a. numerical relativity), is to the Einstein field equations---which, so far as we know, provide the correct classical description of relativistic (that is, "post-Newton") gravitation---as numerical weather forecasting is to meteorology. Numerical relativists, such as those working and begin trained in Choptuik's group, use supercomputers to model such cataclysmic events as the collision of two black holes, or two neutron stars.  Such studies have the  potential to accelerate the terrestrial discovery of gravitational radiation--first predicted by Einstein himself almost 90 years ago, but as yet unobserved despite the investment of the order of billions of dollars to date on gravitational wave detectors. However, the prime motivator for  Choptuik's research program as a whole will continue to be a desire to understand, in detail, the nature of strong field gravity, bearing in mind that understanding dynamical, strong field gravity remains one of the great frontiers of theoretical physics, claims of at least some string theorists notwithstanding! Specific physical scenarios that will be modelled include neutron star-neutron star, or neutron star-black hole binaries, in the late stages of gravitional-radiation induced inspiral, as well as scenarios of a more theoretical nature, such as the ultimate fate of a dynamically unstable "black string". Many of the calculations supported by this proposal will be run on extremely large computers, with typical single jobs running simultaneously on 100 processors or more.