Given by Geoffrey C. Fox at CPSP713 Case studies in Computational Science on Spring Semester 1996. Foils prepared 15 March 1996
Abstract * Foil Index for this file
This describes the structure of Numerical Relativity as a set of differential equations but it does discuss state of the art solvers involving adaptive meshes |
Basic Motivation of General Relativity and its experimental tests |
Metric Tensor, its derivatives and Einstein's equations |
Initial value formulation and structure of elliptic and hyperbolic equations |
Examination of particular finite difference scheme for the Wave equation in three dimensions -- a study to understand large distances issues in solving numerical relativity |
This table of Contents Abstract
Geoffrey Fox |
NPAC |
111 College Place |
Syracuse NY 13244-4100 |
This describes the structure of Numerical Relativity as a set of differential equations but it does discuss state of the art solvers involving adaptive meshes |
Basic Motivation of General Relativity and its experimental tests |
Metric Tensor, its derivatives and Einstein's equations |
Initial value formulation and structure of elliptic and hyperbolic equations |
Examination of particular finite difference scheme for the Wave equation in three dimensions -- a study to understand large distances issues in solving numerical relativity |
Introductory References:
|
More Technical Background for Discussion In Course:
|
We are familiar with Newton's Laws for the Interactions between Particles: |
"What" Causes this force?
|
Note that gravitational forces cause particles to move in vacuum but we are also familiar with particles moving "downwards" if placed on a nonflat surface |
Einstein's theory of General Relativity is a brilliant generalization of this to describe all gravity in terms of structure of Space-Time |
We do not say say the Earth creates a "Gravitational Force" which causes Apples to fall as noted by Newton |
Rather The Earth distorts space-Time and Apples move in this distorted Space-Time |
In Newton's law, gravitational force of Earth proportional to its Mass |
In Einstein's description, distortion of Space-Time is proportional to Mass of particle |
Everything (including you) distorts Space-Time;
|
We can consider the distortion of Space-Time due to a Heavy Body as analogous to distortion of a FLAT rubber sheet into a DROOPING rubber sheet when a bowling ball is placed in the Middle |
Now place a much lighter body (a marble) near the bowling ball
|
Greek indices m,n .. denote Space-Time and run from 0 (time) to 3. |
Latin indices i,j,k .. denote Space and run from 1 to 3 (x y and z). |
Note indices ALWAYS balance in equations and there is difference between upper and lower indices
|
Again M ij M jk = d i k is Expression of Inverse Condition |
The speed of light c is set to 1.
|
All quantities in General Relativity are a function of the four vector: |
The dynamical variables of the theory are the 10 independent components of the the metric tensor: |
For example, this describes distortion of rubber sheet by bowling ball |
g mn = g nm is SYMMETRIC |
If two Space-Time points are separated by four vector d m |
Square of distance between them is g mn d m d n |
Each of 16 (10 independent) components of 4 by 4 tensor g mn is a function |
of the four vector |
Einstein's equations are nonlinear equations for the metric g and its derivatives usually constructed in terms of so called Christoffel Symbol G |
Newtonian gravity is linear (weak field) limit of General Relativity |
Tests of General Relativity --
|
New experiments will directly observe gravitational waves due to interactions with sensitive detectors on earth
|
Can estimate that Computations of Gravitational Waves from black hole collision would take 100,000 hours on a Cray-YMP
|
Estimate that LIGO will sensitivity to detect black hole gravitational waves around the year 2005 |
Einstein first published equations in 1915 with three predictions: |
Bending of Light as it passed massive objects such as stars
|
There is a small (43 seconds of arc per century -- with 3600 seconds of arc as one degree) shift in Mercury's perihelion not accounted for by Newtonian Gravity
|
"Blue" shift (frequency or energy change) of light as it falls down a gravitational field
|
Observed time delay of radar signals bounced off planets or spacecraft during superior conjunction
|
Observed decrease in period of binary pulsar discovered by Hulse and Taylor(1975)
|
A laser monitors distance between Moon and Earth showing that they both have same acceleration due to sun with a precision of 7 parts per ten trillion(1010)
|
Says that a uniform gravitational field is the same as constant acceleration
|
Alternatively, Equivalence Principle says that the gravitational mass (the mass m1 that appears in Newton's law of gravity)
|
is equal to inertial mass m1 appearing in Newton's law of motion
|
In general relativity, the Equivalence Principle is built in |
We formulate General Relativity in fashion one would expect for solving wave equations in three spatial dimensions
|
The Einstein equations for g mn can now be written in terms of a reduced 3 by 3 symmetric metric matrix q ij |
q ij has 9 components of which 6 are independent |
There are 10 dynamical equations for 6 independent components of q ij
|
When Solving a second order time evolution equation such as |
One typically converts this to a pair of first order in time equations by transformation: |
We perform the analogous step in general relativity, introducing a new symmetric matrix K ij which is called the extrinsic curvature and related to but not exactly equal to single time derivative of q ij |
K is a Symmetric 3 by 3 matrix |
And we now have 14 equations: |
One of the fascinating features of Numerical Relativity is the freedom to choose coordinates
|
The Lapse describes how much time elapses between two spacial surfaces |
The Shift functions N i describe the tangential shift as you move from the t 0 to t 0+ dt spacial surface |
Choose Lapse and Shift to:
|
a and N i are depicted below for two adjacent spacial surfaces t and t + dt |
Define Inverse q ij of 3 by 3 matrix q ij: |
Define the spacial restriction of Christoffel Symbol by:
|
Get full Christoffel Symbol by replacing q ij by g mn and makes all indices Greek running from 0 to 3. |
Note these are very nonlinear and complicated
|
6 First Order in Time Evolution Equations for q ij |
6 First Order in Time Evolution Equations for K ij |
The numerical relativity problem has several key features |
Our first example is based on work of University of Pittsburgh group involving R. Gomez and J.Winicour
|
This studies the wave-like features of Einstein's equations where key numerical problem is reliable extraction of Gravitational waves |
This is nontrivial as gravitational waves can only be extracted after one has evolved a "long way" from the black holes |
It is difficult numerically to reliable evolve oscillating solutions through long distances
|
Key features of Pittsburgh Approach
|
The 3D Wave |
Equation is: |
We will study this as "essential issues" in wave extraction are exhibited
|
Transform to Spherical |
Polar Coordinates |
Introduce characteristic
|
Introduce new computational variables (x,h,z)
|
These three variables are used as well as u (=t-r) replacing time as fourth independent variable |
Replace F by G as dependent variable: |
We must solve: |
In Compact Domain: |
With Boundary Conditions given in diagram: |
Note we assume that you have used other techniques (represntations) to integrate upto: |
This illustrates formalism on previous page |
We take simple equally paced gridpoints in u, x, h, and z. |
We have already seen for convection equation subtly in time discretization of this type of equation. |
A stable explicit method can be obtained by a carefully chosen integral formulation described in Miller's memo. |
This involves integrating over a box PQRS with sides parallel to the characteristic axes u=constant, v=constant |
We find these pictures for box PQRS in (t,r) (u,v) (u,x) spaces |
Alternatively we can view as a brilliant choice of finite difference scheme |
Which is justified a posteriori by the Von Neumann stability analysis given in Pittsburgh memo which shows all eigenvalues have unit modulus as required for
|
This clever choice is: |
Giving: |
Further we similarily: |
Which gives final numerical equations: |