You Spin Me Round: Measuring Precession in the Black Hole Population

理解广义相对论对两个黑洞动态相互作用的预测一直是理论物理学中一个长期未解决的问题。通过研究最后的轨道和两个黑洞的合并，这些未解决的问题可以得到回答，这将使人们深入了解引力波的研究和探测。研究一个双星系统是必要的，因为它的信号更纯，当它们合并时释放出大量的能量。发展一个能解爱因斯坦双黑洞系统方程的计算机模型，将使我们能够构造出符合广义相对论的精确引力波。这些波形的理论预测对于引力波和理论天体物理学领域的进展至关重要，而由此产生的波形只能通过爱因斯坦方程的数值模拟来计算。理论化的引力波形允许适应滤波器被添加到由LIGO检测到的弱引力波信号和随后的统计分析进行。没有爱因斯坦方程的数值解，引力波信号太弱，无法进行分析，甚至无法检测到信号已经通过了探测器。因此，这项突破性的研究将使人们能够深入了解开发一种技术来测试爱因斯坦的理论并验证所有推论，如果没有这项研究，引力波领域将不会有任何重大进展。这个项目在时间表内是可以实现的。第一年将用于理解背景阅读和当前的数字代码，第二年将用于分析更高质量比和自旋的初始数据，第三年将使用代码研究振铃波形，黑洞反冲和进动效应的细节。描述与他们的理论模型相匹配的实验结果，如此准确地向我强调了站在科学前沿的重要性，并为一个可能是我们一生中最大的科学突破的领域做出贡献。正是这种理解宇宙基础的喜悦，无疑将推动我度过攻读博士学位的艰难时期。在卡迪夫成功完成博士学位后，我对理论天体物理学的热情将推动我进入学术界的职业生涯。我计划进行博士后研究，以进一步了解引力波的数学形式化。这将导致宇宙学领域的重大进展，出版物描述了爱因斯坦广义相对论的相应修改。

Understanding the predictions of general relativity for the dynamic interactions of two black holes has been a long-standing unsolved problem in theoretical physics. By studying for a PhD investigating the last orbits and the merger of two black holes, these unsolved problems can be answered which would give insight into the study and detection of gravitational waves. Investigating a binary system is imperative due to its purer signal and vast amount of energy released as they merge. Developing a computer model which solves Einstein's equations for binary blackhole systems will allow us to construct precise gravitational waveforms which obeys the theory of general relativity.These theoretical predictions of the waveforms are critical for progress to be made in the field of gravitational waves and theoretical astrophysics in general whereby the resulting waveforms can only be calculated through numerical simulations of Einstein's equations. Theorising the gravitational waveforms allows for adapted filters to be added to the weak gravitational wave signal detected by LIGO and consequent statistical analysis to be carried out. Without the numerical solutions to Einstein's equations, the gravitational wave signal is too weak to carry out analysis and even to detect that the signal has passed through the detector. This ground-breaking research will therefore enable insights into developing a technique for testing Einstein's theory and validating all corollaries as a consequence and without this research the field of gravitational waves will not have any significant progresses. This project is achievable within the timescale. The first year will be used to understand background reading and current numerical codes, the second year will be used to analyse initial data for higher mass ratios and spins and the third year will use the code to study the details of ringdown waveforms, blackhole recoil and precession effects.Listening to world leading academics, including LIGO spokeswoman Dr Gabriela Gonzalez, describe experimental results which match their theoretical models so accurately highlighted to me the importance of being at the forefront of science and contributing to a field which is potentially the biggest scientific breakthrough of our lifetime. It is this joy for understanding the underpinning of the universe that will no doubt propel me through the difficult times of pursuing a PhD. After successfully completing a PhD at Cardiff, my passion for theoretical astrophysics will propel me into a career in academia. I plan on carrying out postdoctoral research to gain further insight into the mathematical formalisation of gravitational waves. This will culminate in significant progresses in the field of cosmology, with publications describing consequent modifications to Einstein's theory of General Relativity.