title: Building black holes: supercomputer cinema.
abstract: A new computer code can solve Einstein's equations of general relativity for the dynamical evolution of a relativistic star cluster. The cluster may contain a large number of stars that move in a strong gravitational field at speeds approaching the speed of light. Unstable star clusters undergo catastrophic collapse to black holes. The collapse of an unstable cluster to a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy may explain the origin of quasars and active galactic nuclei. By means of a supercomputer simulation and color graphics, the whole process can be viewed in real time on a movie screen.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Teukolsky