Dynamical Formation and Evolution of Compact Binaries

相对论性双星系统，其中两颗紧凑的恒星在一个非常紧密的轨道上相互环绕，是目前激光干涉仪探测器（如LIGO）最重要的引力辐射源之一。引力波源的理论研究对于解释干涉仪收集的数据以及规划未来更先进的探测器至关重要。本项目包括两个密切相关的研究：（1）含黑洞和中子星星的致密双星系统最终合并的数值计算。这些都将使用复杂的三维相对论流体动力学代码进行，并作为西北大学和宾夕法尼亚州立大学之间新合作的一部分。新的流体动力学计算代表了一个显着的改进，比以前的，更近似的处理牛顿重力的基础上。(2)稠密星星团中黑洞的恒星动力学模拟。在这些系统中频繁的动力学相互作用可以导致大量的合并黑洞双星的形成，并且可能是引力波探测器可探测到的恒星黑洞合并的主要来源。合并致密双星的研究在天体物理学的许多其他领域都很重要，例如伽马射线暴和星系中重元素的产生。即将开发的恒星动力学和相对论流体动力学计算机程序是一种通用工具，对研究涉及相对论恒星和流体的许多其他问题是有用的。这项研究涉及培训几名本科生，包括来自代表性不足的少数民族的学生和一名研究生。外联活动将利用附近芝加哥的阿德勒天文馆和天文博物馆的资源，使研究结果和方法能够向广大和不同的公众展示。

Relativistic binary systems, in which two compact stars orbit each other in a very tight orbit, are among the most important sources of gravitational radiation for current laser interferometer detectors such as LIGO. The theoretical study of gravitational wave sources is crucial for the interpretation of data to be collected by the interferometers, and for the planning of future, more advanced detectors. This project consists of two closely related studies: (1) Numerical calculations of the final mergers of compact binary systems containing a black hole and a neutron star. These are to be performed using a sophisticated 3-D relativistic hydrodynamic code and as part of a new collaboratione between Northwestern and Penn State University. The new hydrodynamic calculations represent a significant improvement over previous, more approximate treatments based on Newtonian gravity. (2) Stellar dynamical simulations of black holes in dense star clusters. Frequent dynamical interactions in these systems can lead to the formation of large numbers of coalescing black hole binaries and may represent a dominant source of detectable stellar black hole mergers for gravitational wave detectors.The study of coalescing compact binaries is important in many other areas of astrophysics, such as gamma-ray bursts, and the production of heavy elements in galaxies. The stellar dynamics and relativistic hydrodynamics computer codes to be developed are general tools, which are useful for studying many other problems involving relativistic stars and fluids. This research involves the training of several undergraduate students, including students from under-represented minorities, and one graduate student. Outreach activities will take advantage of the resources of the nearby Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago, allowing the results and methodology to be presented to a large and diverse public.