Computational relativity: black holes, chaos, and structure formation

• Grant number: 97/11778-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: March 01, 1998
• End date: February 28, 2002
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Elementary Particle Physics and Fields
• Principal Investigator: Patricio Anibal Letelier Sotomayor
• Grantee: Patricio Anibal Letelier Sotomayor
• Host Institution: Instituto de Matemática, Estatística e Computação Científica (IMECC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The central theme of this project is the model of black hole as an astrophysical object, in other words as a paradigm of a compact object. The different aspects that will be our focus of interest have all, in principle, an observational component. We shall study: a) the collision of two black holes, in particular the gravitational radiation; b) the motion of test particles orbitating around a black hole with halos, or a compact object with multipolar perturbations; in particular we shall study the orbits stability. This is a traditional subject of celestial mechanics wherein we add a general relativistic component; c) models of compact objects with structure (discs, rings, etc). We look for exact solutions of Einstein equation that may represent objects with astrophysical interest in view of its use in other researches like the structure formation by rotating central bodies, numerical simulations of elouds of particles and also test fluids; d) structure formation at the cosmogonic and cosmological level. Different aspect of textures, monopoles, strings, and walls(bubbles) in view of its possible use as gravitational seeds of structures of different size. The methodology to be employed is strongly based in the use of computers as a tool for numerical as well as algebraic calculations. (AU)