Binary black hole merger dynamics and waveforms

TL;DR

This paper presents detailed simulations of binary black hole mergers, analyzing gravitational waveforms and black hole dynamics, achieving high accuracy in modeling the last orbits, merger, and ringdown consistent with Einstein's theory.

Contribution

It introduces advanced simulation techniques for binary black hole mergers, providing highly accurate gravitational waveform predictions and black hole spin measurements.

Findings

Profound agreement (1%) in waveforms during last orbit, merger, and ringdown.

Final black hole spin parameter a/m=0.69.

Good agreement (10%) in radiation from earlier orbits.

Abstract

We study dynamics and radiation generation in the last few orbits and merger of a binary black hole system, applying recently developed techniques for simulations of moving black holes. Our analysis of the gravitational radiation waveforms and dynamical black hole trajectories produces a consistent picture for a set of simulations with black holes beginning on circular-orbit trajectories at a variety of initial separations. We find profound agreement at the level of one percent among the simulations for the last orbit, merger and ringdown. We are confident that this part of our waveform result accurately represents the predictions from Einstein's General Relativity for the final burst of gravitational radiation resulting from the merger of an astrophysical system of equal-mass non-spinning black holes. The simulations result in a final black hole with spin parameter a/m=0.69. We also find good agreement at a level of roughly 10 percent for the radiation generated in the preceding few orbits.