Binary black hole initial data for numerical general relativity based on post-Newtonian data

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method for constructing initial data for binary black hole simulations using post-Newtonian expansions, aiming for more realistic astrophysical modeling of inspiraling black holes.

Contribution

It presents the first derivation of fully general relativistic initial data based on post-2-Newtonian expansions without spin, linking early inspiral data to numerical relativity.

Findings

Developed a family of initial data based on post-2-Newtonian expansions

Proposed a numerical implementation using a generalized puncture method

Suggested a way to reduce ambiguity in mapping post-Newtonian data to Einstein constraints

Abstract

With the goal of taking a step toward the construction of astrophysically realistic initial data for numerical simulations of black holes, we for the first time derive a family of fully general relativistic initial data based on post-2-Newtonian expansions of the 3-metric and extrinsic curvature without spin. It is expected that such initial data provide a direct connection with the early inspiral phase of the binary system. We discuss a straightforward numerical implementation, which is based on a generalized puncture method. Furthermore, we suggest a method to address some of the inherent ambiguity in mapping post-Newtonian data onto a solution of the general relativistic constraints.