Investigations in Gravitational Wave Sources and Numerical Relativity

North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC

Investigators

Abstract

Two problems in gravitational physics will be studied, each of vital importance for the current efforts to detect gravitational waves and characterize gravitational wave sources. First, gravitational waves from core-collapse supernovae will be analyzed using a three--dimensional computer code based on the Newtonian/quadrupole approximation. This work will determine whether dynamical instabilities succeed in producing a highly elongated or fragmented inner core, with a correspondingly large gravitational-wave signal. Second, the ``Einstein--Christoffel" hyperbolic formulation of general relativity will be analyzed with particular emphasis on developing a stable, accurate numerical algorithm. Progress will be made toward developing a numerical relativity code that encorporates a high-resolution shock capturing scheme. Such codes will be needed to investigate the role that gravitational shocks might play in astrophysical systems. Also, these simulations constitute an important step toward determining whether gravitational waves from supernovae can be detected by receivers such as LIGO.