Application Motivation IV: Numerical Relativity
As with all physical simulations, realistic 3D computations require “Teraflop” (10^12 operations per second) performance
Numerical Relativity just solves the “trivial” Einstein equations G?? = 8?T?? with indices running over 4 dimensions
Apply to collision of two black holes which are expected to be a major source of gravitational waves for which US and Europe are building major detectors
Unique features includes freedom to choose coordinate systems (Gauge freedom) in ways that changes nature of equations
Black Hole has amazing boundary condition that no information can escape from it.
- Not so clear how to formulate this numerically and involves interplay between computer science and physics
At infinity, one has “simple” (but numerically difficult) wave equation; near black hole one finds very non linear system