Catalog of 174 binary black hole simulations for gravitational wave astronomy.
This Letter presents a publicly available catalog of 174 numerical binary black hole simulations following up to 35 orbits. The catalog includes 91 precessing binaries, mass ratios up to 8∶1, orbital eccentricities from a few percent to 10(-5), black hole spins up to 98% of the theoretical maximum, and radiated energies up to 11.1% of the initial mass. We establish remarkably good agreement with post-Newtonian precession of orbital and spin directions for two new precessing simulations, and we discuss other applications of this catalog. Formidable challenges remain: e.g., precession complicates the connection of numerical and approximate analytical waveforms, and vast regions of the parameter space remain unexplored.
Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, 60 St. George Street, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H8, Canada.
Abdul H
AH
Mroué
Theoretical Astrophysics 350-17, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Mark A
MA
Scheel
Theoretical Astrophysics 350-17, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Béla
B
Szilágyi
Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, 60 St. George Street, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H8, Canada and Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, 180 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Z8, Canada.
Harald P
HP
Pfeiffer
Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Michael
M
Boyle
Theoretical Astrophysics 350-17, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA and Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Daniel A
DA
Hemberger
Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Lawrence E
LE
Kidder
Theoretical Astrophysics 350-17, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA and Gravitational Wave Physics and Astronomy Center, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834, USA.
Geoffrey
G
Lovelace
Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, 60 St. George Street, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H8, Canada and Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 50 St. George Street, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H4, Canada.
Serguei
S
Ossokine
Theoretical Astrophysics 350-17, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Nicholas W
NW
Taylor
Theoretical Astrophysics 350-17, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Anıl
A
Zenginoğlu
Theoretical Astrophysics 350-17, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Luisa T
LT
Buchman
Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, 60 St. George Street, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H8, Canada.
Tony
T
Chu
Gravitational Wave Physics and Astronomy Center, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834, USA.
Evan
E
Foley
Gravitational Wave Physics and Astronomy Center, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, California 92834, USA.
Matthew
M
Giesler
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio 44074, USA.
Robert
R
Owen
Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Saul A
SA
Teukolsky