437 research outputs found
MAGMA: a 3D, Lagrangian magnetohydrodynamics code for merger applications
We present a new, completely Lagrangian magnetohydrodynamics code that is
based on the SPH method. The equations of self-gravitating hydrodynamics are
derived self-consistently from a Lagrangian and account for variable smoothing
length (``grad-h''-) terms in both the hydrodynamic and the gravitational
acceleration equations. The evolution of the magnetic field is formulated in
terms of so-called Euler potentials which are advected with the fluid and thus
guarantee the MHD flux-freezing condition. This formulation is equivalent to a
vector potential approach and therefore fulfills the
-constraint by construction. Extensive tests in
one, two and three dimensions are presented. The tests demonstrate the
excellent conservation properties of the code and show the clear superiority of
the Euler potentials over earlier magnetic SPH formulations.Comment: 18 pages, 17 Figures, a high resolution copy of the paper can be
found at http://www.faculty.iu-bremen.de/srosswog/MAGMA.pd
Numerical simulations of neutron star-black hole binaries in the near-equal-mass regime
Simulations of neutron star-black hole (NSBH) binaries generally consider
black holes with masses in the range , where we expect to find
most stellar mass black holes. The existence of lower mass black holes,
however, cannot be theoretically ruled out. Low-mass black holes in binary
systems with a neutron star companion could mimic neutron star-neutron (NSNS)
binaries, as they power similar gravitational wave (GW) and electromagnetic
(EM) signals. To understand the differences and similarities between NSNS
mergers and low-mass NSBH mergers, numerical simulations are required. Here, we
perform a set of simulations of low-mass NSBH mergers, including systems
compatible with GW170817. Our simulations use a composition and temperature
dependent equation of state (DD2) and approximate neutrino transport, but no
magnetic fields. We find that low-mass NSBH mergers produce remnant disks
significantly less massive than previously expected, and consistent with the
post-merger outflow mass inferred from GW170817 for moderately asymmetric mass
ratio. The dynamical ejecta produced by systems compatible with GW170817 is
negligible except if the mass ratio and black hole spin are at the edge of the
allowed parameter space. That dynamical ejecta is cold, neutron-rich, and
surprisingly slow for ejecta produced during the tidal disruption of a neutron
star : . We also find that the final mass of the remnant
black hole is consistent with existing analytical predictions, while the final
spin of that black hole is noticeably larger than expected -- up to for our equal mass case
Astrophysics from data analysis of spherical gravitational wave detectors
The direct detection of gravitational waves will provide valuable
astrophysical information about many celestial objects. Also, it will be an
important test to general relativity and other theories of gravitation. The
gravitational wave detector SCHENBERG has recently undergone its first test
run. It is expected to have its first scientific run soon. In this work the
data analysis system of this spherical, resonant mass detector is tested
through the simulation of the detection of gravitational waves generated during
the inspiralling phase of a binary system. It is shown from the simulated data
that it is not necessary to have all six transducers operational in order to
determine the source's direction and the wave's amplitudes.Comment: 8 pages and 3 figure
Collapse and black hole formation in magnetized, differentially rotating neutron stars
The capacity to model magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) flows in dynamical,
strongly curved spacetimes significantly extends the reach of numerical
relativity in addressing many problems at the forefront of theoretical
astrophysics. We have developed and tested an evolution code for the coupled
Einstein-Maxwell-MHD equations which combines a BSSN solver with a high
resolution shock capturing scheme. As one application, we evolve magnetized,
differentially rotating neutron stars under the influence of a small seed
magnetic field. Of particular significance is the behavior found for
hypermassive neutron stars (HMNSs), which have rest masses greater the mass
limit allowed by uniform rotation for a given equation of state. The remnant of
a binary neutron star merger is likely to be a HMNS. We find that magnetic
braking and the magnetorotational instability lead to the collapse of HMNSs and
the formation of rotating black holes surrounded by massive, hot accretion tori
and collimated magnetic field lines. Such tori radiate strongly in neutrinos,
and the resulting neutrino-antineutrino annihilation (possibly in concert with
energy extraction by MHD effects) could provide enough energy to power
short-hard gamma-ray bursts. To explore the range of outcomes, we also evolve
differentially rotating neutron stars with lower masses and angular momenta
than the HMNS models. Instead of collapsing, the non-hypermassive models form
nearly uniformly rotating central objects which, in cases with significant
angular momentum, are surrounded by massive tori.Comment: Submitted to a special issue of Classical and Quantum Gravity based
around the New Frontiers in Numerical Relativity meeting at the Albert
Einstein Institute, Potsdam, July 17-21, 200
Constraint propagation equations of the 3+1 decomposition of f(R) gravity
Theories of gravity other than general relativity (GR) can explain the
observed cosmic acceleration without a cosmological constant. One such class of
theories of gravity is f(R). Metric f(R) theories have been proven to be
equivalent to Brans-Dicke (BD) scalar-tensor gravity without a kinetic term.
Using this equivalence and a 3+1 decomposition of the theory it has been shown
that metric f(R) gravity admits a well-posed initial value problem. However, it
has not been proven that the 3+1 evolution equations of metric f(R) gravity
preserve the (hamiltonian and momentum) constraints. In this paper we show that
this is indeed the case. In addition, we show that the mathematical form of the
constraint propagation equations in BD-equilavent f(R) gravity and in f(R)
gravity in both the Jordan and Einstein frames, is exactly the same as in the
standard ADM 3+1 decomposition of GR. Finally, we point out that current
numerical relativity codes can incorporate the 3+1 evolution equations of
metric f(R) gravity by modifying the stress-energy tensor and adding an
additional scalar field evolution equation. We hope that this work will serve
as a starting point for relativists to develop fully dynamical codes for valid
f(R) models.Comment: 25 pages, matches published version in CQG, references update
Relativistic Models for Binary Neutron Stars with Arbitrary Spins
We introduce a new numerical scheme for solving the initial value problem for
quasiequilibrium binary neutron stars allowing for arbitrary spins. The coupled
Einstein field equations and equations of relativistic hydrodynamics are solved
in the Wilson-Mathews conformal thin sandwich formalism. We construct sequences
of circular-orbit binaries of varying separation, keeping the rest mass and
circulation constant along each sequence. Solutions are presented for
configurations obeying an n=1 polytropic equation of state and spinning
parallel and antiparallel to the orbital angular momentum. We treat stars with
moderate compaction ((m/R) = 0.14) and high compaction ((m/R) = 0.19). For all
but the highest circulation sequences, the spins of the neutron stars increase
as the binary separation decreases. Our zero-circulation cases approximate
irrotational sequences, for which the spin angular frequencies of the stars
increases by 13% (11%) of the orbital frequency for (m/R) = 0.14 ((m/R) = 0.19)
by the time the innermost circular orbit is reached. In addition to leaving an
imprint on the inspiral gravitational waveform, this spin effect is measurable
in the electromagnetic signal if one of the stars is a pulsar visible from
Earth.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figures. A few explanatory sentences added and some
typos corrected. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
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