Proyecto: FIS2011-30145-C03-03

IP: Ulrich Sperhake, sperhake@ieec.uab.es

Tipo Beca: FPI - Fecha límite convocatoria: 23.02.2012
Centro/Institución: Institut de Ciències de l’Espai (CSIC-IEEC)

Breve descripción del proyecto (INGLÉS):
We propose to model black holes in the framework of General Relativity in four and higher dimensions as well in alternative theories of gravity using numerical relativity and approximation theories. For convenience, our proposed research can be classified into two main areas: (i) The modeling of astrophysical compact binaries as sources of gravitational waves and (ii) the study of black-hole (BH) collisions in four and higher dimensional spacetimes as well as alternative theories of gravity.

The first part of this proposal is motivated by the ongoing effort to detect gravitational waves (GW) from astrophysical sources with ground based laser interferometer detectors, LIGO, VIRGO and GEO600, as well as the planned space mission LISA. Among the most promising sources for these detectors are binary systems of stellar-mass and massive BHs. In order to maximize the physical output from the observations it is necessary to have available accurate theoretical predictions of the expected GW signal which will then be used in the analysis of the GW data stream using the so-called matched filtering technique. The major target of our study is to improve such theoretical predictions by combining numerical relativity results with approximate studies, including post-Newtonian and perturbation theory, over a wider range of mass ratios and including spin configurations with spin precession. We will use these simulations to generate template banks of waveforms and assess how the inclusion of the merger and ringdown part of the waveforms will improve parameter estimation in GW observations. We further plan to compare the numerical results with perturbative calculations for extreme-mass-ratio inspirals.

The second part of this proposal is motivated by TeV particle collisions performed at the LHC and the possibility of generating BHs in such collisions. BH formation in these experiments may occur if the fundamental Planck scale is lowered due to the presence of large extra dimensions or extra dimensions with a warp factor. In these scenarios gravity becomes the dominant force at energies as low as the TeV range reachable by the LHC. BH formation and subsequent evaporation via Hawking radiation can be detected via its special signature in the experimental data, such as the jet multiplicity and transverse energy. The event generators to be used for the data analysis require as key input parameters the scattering threshold for BH formation and losses of energy and angular momentum in the form of GWs during the collision. We propose to perform numerical simulations of high-energy collisions of BHs in four as well as higher dimensional spacetimes in order to accurately determine these parameters. We also plan to explore the dynamics of BHs in non-asymptotically flat spacetimes as a preliminary investigation to use numerical relativity in the context of the AdS/CFT correspondence. Finally, we plan to develop tools in gravitational physics to perform tests of the space-time geometry of BHs and the validity of General Relativity and alternative theories of gravity by means of gravitational-wave observations. This involves the generation of waveform templates that include parameters that describe deviations from the Kerr geometry and from General Relativity.

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