HLRB Project h1021
Dynamics of binary black hole systems
Theoretisch-Physikalisches Institut, Uni Jena
Proposing Institution
Theoretisch-Physikalisches Institut, Uni Jena
Project Manager
Marcus Thierfelder
Max Wien Platz 1
07743 Jena
Abstract
Structure formation in the Universe is dominated by a mysterious dark matter component, which is aboutsix times more abundant than all the known matter made up of standard model particles. Most of thepast research has focused on the assumption that the putative dark particle should be thermally cold andmassive. However, there are some observational clues that this model has shortcomings on small scales.One possible solution from particle physics is for the dark particle to be lighter and retain some thermalvelocity. This scenario is dubbed Warm Dark Matter (WDM). We propose to explore cosmic structureformation in the WDM scenario through a suite of ambitious high resolution N-body simulations. Thesesimulations will be aimed at uncovering the details of how structure formation behaves from the very largestscale structures, down to the free-streaming mass scale and out to high redshift for the first objects. Thiswill enable us to greatly extend our knowledge about large and small scale structures in WDM and alsomixed cold plus warm dark matter (C+WDM) cosmologies. This work will also help direct and indirect dark matterdetection experiments to calculate expected cross-sections for these particle candidates.The goal of this project is to compute the last phase of the inspiral and merger of two black holes in Einstein's theory of general relativity. Numerical simulations of binary black hole systems have only recently reached the point where for the first time several complete orbits can be computed. Such simulations pose on the one hand a significant theoretical and technical challenge since the time-dependent Einstein equations have to be solved in the regime of highly dynamic and non-linear gravitational fields. On the other hand, theoretical predictions for the gravitational waves generated in a binary black hole merger are eagerly awaited by a new generation of gravitational wave experiments. The plan is therefore to map out the parameter space of gravitational wave signals from binary black hole inspirals. This research is funded in part by the SFB/Transregio 7 on Gravitational Wave Astronomy, and by the BMBF/DLR grant for LISA Germany.
