A well-posed BSSN-type formulation for scalar-tensor theories of gravity with second-order field equations

TL;DR

This paper develops a stable BSSN-type formulation for scalar-tensor gravity theories, enabling more reliable numerical simulations of black hole systems beyond General Relativity.

Contribution

It introduces a well-posed BSSN-type formalism compatible with certain modified gravity theories, extending numerical relativity tools beyond Einstein's theory.

Findings

The new formalism is robust in black hole simulations.

Benchmarking shows consistency with modified CCZ4 results.

Enables exploration of alternative gravity theories numerically.

Abstract

Recent developments in the modified harmonic and modified puncture gauges have opened new possibilities for performing stable numerical evolutions beyond General Relativity. In this work, we utilise techniques developed in the aforementioned formalisms to derive a BSSN-type formalism compatible with certain classes of modified gravity theories. As an intermediate step, we also derived modified versions of the Z4 and Z3 formalisms, thereby completing the connection between these formalisms beyond General Relativity. We then test the robustness of the new modified BSSN formalism by simulating the dynamics of black hole systems and benchmarking the results against the modified CCZ4 formulation. These developments enable the exploration of theories beyond General Relativity in many well-known Numerical Relativity codes that use different versions of the puncture gauge approach.