ITR: Innovative Computational Methods for General Relativity

本研究旨在利用超级计算机模拟方法对爱因斯坦方程进行数值求解。重点是跟踪双黑洞系统的合并和合并，并计算在此过程中发出的引力波形。这些过程是目前正在建设的引力波探测器的主要目标，比如LIGO，并且迫切需要可靠的波形。这个问题的数值解被证明是非常困难的。研究人员将使用一种新的计算技术——伪谱搭配来解决这个问题。这种技术已经在物理科学的许多其他领域取得了成功，并显示出数值相对论的巨大前景。这项研究将对我们对基础物理学的理解产生广泛的影响。目前还没有在黑洞强场范围内对广义相对论进行真正的检验。对于像LIGO这样的实验来说，要用观测来对抗理论，人们必须能够计算出理论所预测的东西。LIGO可能观测到的黑洞是爱因斯坦理论预言的黑洞吗？这项研究还将对计算科学的更广泛领域产生影响。在这里开发的计算技术可以用于解决许多其他领域的问题，包括流体动力学、气象学、地震学和天体物理学。在这些技术方面受过训练的年轻研究人员需求量很大。

This research is aimed at the numerical solution of Einstein's equations by supercomputer simulations. The focus is to track the coalescence and merger of binary black hole systems and to calculate the gravitational waveform emitted by such processes. These processes are primary targets for gravitational wave detectors currently under construction, like LIGO, and there is an urgent need for reliable waveforms. The numerical solution of this problem has proved to be remarkably difficult. The investigators will use a new computational technique on the problem, pseudospectral collocation. This technique has been successful in many other areas of the physical sciences, and shows great promise for numerical relativity.The research will have a broad impact on our understanding of fundamental physics. There are currently no real tests of general relativity in the strong field regime of black holes. For experimentslike LIGO to confront theory with observation, one must be able to calculate what the theory predicts. Are the black holes that LIGO may observe the black holes predicted by Einstein's theory?The research will also have an impact on the broader area of computational science. The computational techniques to be developed here can be used to solve problems in many other areas, including fluid dynamics, meteorology, seismology, and astrophysics. Young researchers trained in these techniques are in great demand.