Gauge and constraint degrees of freedom: from analytical to numerical approximations in General Relativity

The harmonic formulation of Einstein's field equations is considered, where the gauge conditions are introduced as dynamical constraints. The difference between the fully constrained approach (used in analytical approximations) and the free evolution one (used in most numerical approximations) is pointed out. As a generalization, quasi-stationary gauge conditions are also discussed, including numerical experiments with the gauge-waves testbed. The complementary 3+1 approach is also considered, where constraints are related instead with energy and momentum first integrals and the gauge must be provided separately. The relationship between the two formalisms is discussed in a more general framework (Z4 formalism). Different strategies in black hole simulations follow when introducing singularity avoidance as a requirement. More flexible quasi-stationary gauge conditions are proposed in this context, which can be seen as generalizations of the current 'freezing shift' prescriptions.Comment: Talk given at the Spanish Relativity Meeting, Tenerife, September 200

From Tensor Equations to Numerical Code -- Computer Algebra Tools for Numerical Relativity

In this paper we present our recent work in developing a computer-algebra tool for systems of partial differential equations (PDEs), termed "Kranc". Our work is motivated by the problem of finding solutions of the Einstein equations through numerical simulations. Kranc consists of Mathematica based computer-algebra packages, that facilitate the task of dealing with symbolic tensorial calculations and realize the conversion of systems of partial differential evolution equations into parallelized C or Fortran code.Comment: LaTeX llncs style, 9 pages, 1 figure, to appaer in the proceedings of "SYNASC 2004 - 6th International Symposium on Symbolic and Numeric Algorithms for Scientific Computing", Timisoara, Romania, September 26-30 200

Il tenore Ian Bostridge e il pianista Julius Drake al Tempio Valdese

Ian Bostridge, tenoreJulius Drake, pianofort