Tuesday, November 3, 2009
PHYSICS COLLOQUIUM: Modeling the Dynamics and Gravitational-Wave Emission of Coalescing Binary Black Holes
Description:
In general relativity, spacetime is a dynamic and elastic entity both influencing and influenced by the distribution of mass and energy that it contains. Solving the two-body problem in general relativity is therefore much more challenging than in Newtonian gravity. Recent developments at the interface between analytical and numerical relativity have deepened our understanding of the two-body problem in general relativity, revealing an intriguing simplicity. Alessandra Buonanno will review those advances, focusing on the most dynamical and non-linear phase of the coalescence of binary black holes - that is, when the two black holes end their long inspiral with a plunge, merge with each other, and leave behind a ringing black hole. She will also discuss the implications of the advances for the search for gravitational waves - especially with respect to building analytical templates of black hole coalescences, and, in astrophysics, to calculating the distribution of recoil velocities.
Start Time:
9:00 AM
End Time:
9:00 AM
Room:
1410
Common Location Name:
Physics
Web Address:
www.umdphysics.umd.edu/events/physicscolloquia.html
Other Contact Information:
Carole Andres Cuaresma
+1 301 405 5945
ccuaresm@umd.edu
