Black Hole Mergers: from simulation to detection

引力波是由天体物理体的剧烈相互作用产生的引力涟漪。爱因斯坦在1916年首次预测到它们的存在，但由于它们在到达地球之前经过了非常远的距离，所以它们的强度减弱了，所以至今还没有被探测到。目前，许多国家正在完成探测器的建设，这些探测器可能最终会看到引力波，包括nsf资助的LIGO探测器。这种仪器最容易探测到的引力波将来自碰撞的黑洞。不幸的是，如果没有强大的技术从仪器噪声中提取引力波数据，即使是这些事件也可能无法探测到。这项由该奖项资助的研究将使用尖端的计算机模拟来提供有关黑洞碰撞产生的引力波的部分但至关重要的信息。这些信息将用于开发探测引力波信号的强大新技术。证实爱因斯坦对引力波的预言本身就是一个值得称赞的科学目标。然而，还有一个更大的希望。引力波可以由物体产生，比如黑洞，这些物体不能用任何其他方式直接观察到。由于我们对这类天体所知甚少，几乎可以肯定的是，对它们的起源和工作原理的新见解将通过第一次直接观察而产生。此外，人们普遍认为，引力波将揭示宇宙中尚未被构想出来的方面，从而彻底改变目前对宇宙本身本质的认识。虽然这场革命需要数年时间才能实现，但该奖项使预测应该寻找什么以及如何寻找它迈出了重要的第一步。

Gravitational waves are ripples of gravity thrown off by violent interactions of astrophysical bodies. They were first predicted to exist by Einstein in 1916, but because they are weakened by traveling incredibly large distances before reaching Earth, they have not yet been detected. Presently, a number of countries are completing the construction of detectors which might finally see gravitational waves, including the NSF-funded LIGO detectors. The gravitational waves which should be most easily detected by such instruments will come from colliding black holes. Unfortunately, even these events are likely to be undetectable without powerful techniques to extract the gravitational wave data from the instrumental noise. The research funded by this award will use cutting-edge computer simulations to provide partial, but vital, information about the gravitational waves from colliding black holes. This information will then be used to develop powerful new techniques for detecting the gravitational wave signals.The confirmation of Einstein's prediction of gravitational waves is a laudable scientific objective in itself. However, there is also a much greater promise. Gravitational waves can be produced by objects, like black holes, that cannot be directly observed in any other way. Because so little is known about such objects, it is almost certain that new insights into their origins and workings will result from observing them directly for the first time. Furthermore, it is widely believed that gravitational waves will reveal aspects of the universe that have not yet even been conceived of, thus revolutionizing the current picture of the nature of the cosmos itself. While this revolution will take years to realize, this award enables the importantfirst step of predicting what should be sought and how to seek it.