Compact Object Binaries and Gravitational Radiation

Pennsylvania State Univ University Park, University Park PA

Investigators

Abstract

A new era in astronomy will begin once gravitational wave interferometers like LIGO detect first light. These detectors will provide a revolutionary view of the Universe where the messengers are gravitational waves carrying valuable information about phenomena such as black holes, supernovae, spinning neutron stars, collapsars and gamma-ray bursts. In support of the observational efforts, the work in this project is aimed at continuing the development of a generic numerical code capable of modeling what is expected to be one of the most important sources of gravitational radiation, namely binary systems consisting of black holes and/or neutron stars. The specific focus of the work is to explore the complexity of the gravitational waveforms produced during orbits and collisions of binaries involving spinning, unequal mass black holes and, in addition, to investigate the disruption of neutron stars and the role of the disruption in short gamma-ray bursts. The investigation will not only further enhance but also develop new infrastructure for research and collaboration through the creation of flexible and reusable computational tools, essential tools for the interpretation of gravitational wave observations as a component of multi-messenger astronomy. These simulations of sources of gravitational radiation will enrich the learning environment for interdisciplinary training of undergraduate and graduate students in the new field of gravitational wave phenomenology. The work will, in addition, provide key contributions to synergistic efforts, ranging from numerical and mathematical relativity to gravitational wave astrophysics.