Andrea Nerozzi

Excision methods for high resolution shock capturing schemes applied to general relativistic hydrodynamics

We present a simple method for applying excision boundary conditions for the relativistic Euler equations. This method depends on the use of Reconstruction-Evolution methods, a standard class of HRSC methods. We test three different reconstruction schemes, namely TVD, PPM and ENO. The method does not require that the coordinate system is adapted to the excision boundary. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method using tests containing discontinuites, static test-fluid solutions with black holes, and full dynamical collapse of a neutron star to a black hole. A modified PPM scheme is introduced because of problems arisen when matching excision with the original PPM reconstruction scheme.

Towards a Wave-Extraction Method for Numerical Relativity: II. The quasi-Kinnersley Frame

The Newman-Penrose formalism may be used in numerical relativity to extract coordinate-invariant information about gravitational radiation emitted in strong-field dynamical scenarios. The main challenge in doing so is to identify a null tetrad appropriately adapted to the simulated geometry such that NewmanPenrose quantities computed relative to it have an invariant physical meaning. In black hole perturbation theory, the Teukolsky formalism uses such adapted tetrads, those which differ only perturbatively from the background Kinnersley tetrad. At late times, numerical simulations of astrophysical processes producing isolated black holes ought to admit descriptions in the Teukolsky formalism. However, adapted tetrads in this context must be identified using only the numerically computed metric, since no background Kerr geometry is known a priori. To do this, this paper introduces the notion of a quasi-Kinnersley frame. This frame, when space-time is perturbatively close to Kerr, approximates the background Kinnersley frame. However, it remains calculable much more generally, in space-times nonperturbatively different from Kerr. We give an explicit solution for the tetrad transformation which is required in order to find this frame in a general space-time.

Towards a wave-extraction method for numerical relativity. I. Foundations and initial-value formulation

The Teukolsky formalism of black hole perturbation theory describes weak gravitational radiation generated by a mildly dynamical hole near equilibrium. A particular null tetrad of the background Kerr geometry, due to Kinnersley, plays a singularly important role within this formalism. In order to apply the rich physical intuition of Teukolskys approach to the results of fully nonlinear numerical simulations, one must approximate this Kinnersley tetrad using raw numerical data, with no a priori knowledge of a background. This paper addresses this issue by identifying the directions of the tetrad fields in a quasi-Kinnersley frame. This frame provides a unique, analytic extension of Kinnersleys definition for the Kerr geometry to a much broader class of space-times including not only arbitrary perturbations, but also many examples which differ nonperturbatively from Kerr. This paper establishes concrete limits delineating this class and outlines a scheme to calculate the quasi-Kinnersley frame in numerical codes based on the initial-value formulation of geometrodynamics.

Towards a novel wave‐extraction method for numerical relativity

We present the recent results of a research project aimed at constructing a robust wave extraction technique for numerical relativity. Our procedure makes use of Weyl scalars to achieve wave extraction. It is well known that, with a correct choice of null tetrad, Weyl scalars are directly associated to physical properties of the space‐time under analysis in some well understood way. In particular it is possible to associate Ψ4 with the outgoing gravitational radiation degrees of freedom, thus making it a promising tool for numerical wave‐extraction. The right choice of the tetrad is, however, the problem to be addressed. We have made progress towards identifying a general procedure for choosing this tetrad, by looking at transverse tetrads where Ψ1 = Ψ3 = 0. As a direct application of these concepts, we present a numerical study of the evolution of a non‐linearly disturbed black hole described by the Bondi‐Sachs metric. This particular scenario allows us to compare the results coming from Weyl scalars with the results coming from the news function which, in this particular case, is directly associated with the radiative degrees of freedom. We show that, if we did not take particular care in choosing the right tetrad, we would end up with incorrect results.

Scalar functions for wave extraction in numerical relativity

Wave extraction plays a fundamental role in the binary black hole simulations currently performed in numerical relativity. Having a well-defined procedure for wave extraction, which matches simplicity with efficiency, is critical especially when comparing waveforms from different simulations. Recently, progress has been made in defining a general technique which uses Weyl scalars to extract the gravitational wave signal, through the introduction of the quasi-Kinnersley tetrad. This procedure has been used successfully in current numerical simulations; however, it involves complicated calculations. The work in this paper simplifies the procedure by showing that the choice of the quasi-Kinnersley tetrad is reduced to the choice of the timelike vector used to create it. The spacelike vectors needed to complete the tetrad are then easily identified, and it is possible to write the expression for the Weyl scalars in the right tetrad, as simple functions of the electric and magnetic parts of the Weyl tensor.

Towards a novel wave-extraction method for numerical relativity. I. Foundations and initial-value formulation

The Teukolsky formalism of black hole perturbation theory describes weak gravitational radiation generated by a mildly dynamical hole near equilibrium. A particular null tetrad of the background Kerr geometry, due to Kinnersley, plays a singularly important role within this formalism. In order to apply the rich physical intuition of Teukolskys approach to the results of fully nonlinear numerical simulations, one must approximate this Kinnersley tetrad using raw numerical data, with no a priori knowledge of a background. This paper addresses this issue by identifying the directions of the tetrad fields in a quasi-Kinnersley frame. This frame provides a unique, analytic extension of Kinnersleys definition for the Kerr geometry to a much broader class of space-times including not only arbitrary perturbations, but also many examples which differ nonperturbatively from Kerr. This paper establishes concrete limits delineating this class and outlines a scheme to calculate the quasi-Kinnersley frame in numerical codes based on the initial-value formulation of geometrodynamics.

Towards wave extraction in numerical relativity: Foundations and initial value formulation

The Teukolsky formalism of black hole perturbation theory describes weak gravitational radiation generated by a mildly dynamical hole near equilibrium. A particular null tetrad of the background Kerr geometry, due to Kinnersley, plays a singularly important role within this formalism. In order to apply the rich physical intuition of Teukolskys approach to the results of fully nonlinear numerical simulations, one must approximate this Kinnersley tetrad using raw numerical data, with no a priori knowledge of a background. This paper addresses this issue by identifying the directions of the tetrad fields in a quasi-Kinnersley frame. This frame provides a unique, analytic extension of Kinnersleys definition for the Kerr geometry to a much broader class of space-times including not only arbitrary perturbations, but also many examples which differ nonperturbatively from Kerr. This paper establishes concrete limits delineating this class and outlines a scheme to calculate the quasi-Kinnersley frame in numerical codes based on the initial-value formulation of geometrodynamics.

Spin coefficients and gauge fixing in the Newman-Penrose formalism

Since its introduction in 1962, the Newman-Penrose formalism has been widely used in analytical and numerical studies of Einsteins equations, like for example for the Teukolsky master equation, or as a powerful wave extraction tool in numerical relativity. Despite the many applications, Einsteins equations in the Newman-Penrose formalism appear complicated and not easily applicable to general studies of spacetimes, mainly because physical and gauge degrees of freedom are mixed in a nontrivial way. In this paper we approach the whole formalism with the goal of expressing the spin coefficients as functions of tetrad invariants once a particular tetrad is chosen. We show that it is possible to do so, and give for the first time a general recipe for the task, as well as an indication of the quantities and identities that are required.