Collision of two black holes: Theoretical framework

Journal Article · Mon Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Phys. Rev., D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.14.2443· OSTI ID:7137237

Smarr, L; Cadez, A; DeWitt, B; Eppley, K

Highly nonspherical time-dependent collisions between black holes may be powerful sources of gravitational radiation. We consider various attempts at estimating the efficiency of the generation of radiation by such collisions. To determine the actual efficiency as well as to understand the details of the dynamical coalescence of black-hole event horizons, we have developed a numerical method for solving the Einstein gravitational field equations in these high-velocity strong-field regions. The head-on collision of two nonrotating vacuum black holes is chosen as an example of our technique. We use the geometrodynamical model of a black hole as an Einstein-Rosen bridge. The initial data to be evolved are the time-symmetric conformally flat data discovered by Misner. A new set of spatial coordinates for these data is derived. Then the general space plus time decomposition of Einstein's equations is presented and specialized to the axisymmetric nonrotating case. Details of the evolution will be given in later papers. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Princeton University Observatory, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
• OSTI ID: 7137237
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., D; (United States) Vol. 14:10; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
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BLACK HOLES
COLLISIONS
EINSTEIN FIELD EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FIELD EQUATIONS
GRAVITATIONAL FIELDS
MANY-BODY PROBLEM
NEUTRON STARS
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SPACE-TIME
STAR EVOLUTION
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