by Sopuerta, Carlos F. and Yunes, Nicolas
10 pages, 3 figures. LaTeX, JPCS style. Submitted to the proceedings of the 9th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves, and the 2011 Numerical Relativity – Data Analysis (NRDA) meeting, held 10-15 July 2011 in Cardiff, Wales, UK, July 10-15 2011

We describe a new kludge scheme to model the dynamics of generic extreme-mass-ratio inspirals (EMRIs; stellar compact objects spiraling into a spinning supermassive black hole) and their gravitational-wave emission. The Chimera scheme is a hybrid method that combines tools from different approximation techniques in General Relativity: (i) A multipolar, post-Minkowskian expansion for the far-zone metric perturbation (the gravitational waveforms) and for the local prescription of the self-force; (ii) a post-Newtonian expansion for the computation of the multipole moments in terms of the trajectories; and (iii) a BH perturbation theory expansion when treating the trajectories as a sequence of self-adjusting Kerr geodesics. The EMRI trajectory is made out of Kerr geodesic fragments joined via the method of osculating elements as dictated by the multipolar post-Minkowskian radiation-reaction prescription. We implemented the proper coordinate mapping between Boyer-Lindquist coordinates, associated with the Kerr geodesics, and harmonic coordinates, associated with the multipolar post-Minkowskian decomposition. The Chimera scheme is thus a combination of approximations that can be used to model generic inspirals of systems with extreme to intermediate mass ratios, and hence, it can provide valuable information for future space-based gravitational-wave observatories, like LISA, and even for advanced ground detectors. The local character in time of our multipolar post-Minkowskian self-force makes this scheme amenable to study the possible appearance of transient resonances in generic inspirals.

by Warburton, Niels and Akcay, Sarp and Barack, Leor and Gair, Jonathan R. and Sago, Norichika
4.3 pages, 3 figures

We present results from calculations of the orbital evolution in eccentric binaries of nonrotating black holes with extreme mass-ratios. Our inspiral model is based on the method of osculating geodesics, and is the first to incorporate the full gravitational self-force (GSF) effect, including conservative corrections. The GSF information is encapsulated in an analytic interpolation formula based on numerical GSF data for over a thousand sample geodesic orbits. We assess the importance of including conservative GSF corrections in waveform models for gravitational-wave searches.

by Ohme, Frank
12 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, NRDA2011/Amaldi 9 proceedings

Models of gravitational waveforms from coalescing black-hole binaries play a crucial role in the efforts to detect and interpret those signatures in the data of large-scale interferometers. Here we summarize recent models that combine information both from analytical approximations and numerical relativity. We briefly lay out and compare the strategies employed to build such complete models and we recapitulate the errors associated with various aspects of the modelling process.

by Barausse, Enrico and Buonanno, Alessandra and Hughes, Scott A. and Khanna, Gaurav and O’Sullivan, Stephen and Pan, Yi
19 pages, 14 figures, 6 tables

Using the effective-one-body (EOB) formalism and a time-domain Teukolsky code, we generate inspiral, merger, and ringdown waveforms in the small mass-ratio limit. We use EOB inspiral and plunge trajectories to build the Teukolsky equation source term, and compute full coalescence waveforms for a range of black hole spins. By comparing EOB waveforms that were recently developed for comparable mass binary black holes to these Teukolsky waveforms, we improve the EOB model for the (2,2), (2,1), (3,3), and (4,4) modes. Our results can be used to quickly and accurately extract useful information about merger waves for binaries with spin, and should be useful for improving analytic models of such binaries. Although in this analysis we only consider equatorial inspirals (orbital angular momentum parallel to spin), there is no issue of principle preventing us from considering inclined binaries. We will extend this analysis to examine misaligned spin-orbit configurations in future work.

by Lovelace, Geoffrey and Boyle, Michael and Scheel, Mark A. and Szilagyi, Bela
17 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Classical and Quantum Gravity

Motivated by the possibility of observing gravitational waves from merging black holes whose spins are nearly extremal (i.e., 1 in dimensionless units), we present numerical waveforms from simulations of merging black holes with the highest spins simulated to date: (1) a 25.5-orbit inspiral, merger, and ringdown of two holes with equal masses and spins of magnitude 0.97 aligned with the orbital angular momentum; and (2) a previously reported 12.5-orbit inspiral, merger, and ringdown of two holes with equal masses and spins of magnitude 0.95 anti-aligned with the orbital angular momentum. First, we consider the horizon mass and spin evolution of the new aligned-spin simulation. During the inspiral, the horizon area and spin evolve in remarkably close agreement with Alvi’s analytic predictions, and the remnant hole’s final spin agrees reasonably well with several analytic predictions. We also find that the total energy emitted by a real astrophysical system with these parameters—almost all of which is radiated during the time included in this simulation—would be 10.952% of the initial mass at infinite separation. Second, we consider the gravitational waveforms for both simulations. After estimating their uncertainties, we compare the waveforms to several post-Newtonian approximants, finding significant disagreement well before merger, although the phase of the TaylorT4 approximant happens to agree remarkably well with the numerical prediction in the aligned-spin case. We find that the post-Newtonian waveforms have sufficient uncertainty that hybridized waveforms will require far longer numerical simulations (in the absence of improved post-Newtonian waveforms) for accurate parameter estimation of low-mass binary systems.

by Sopuerta, Carlos F. and Yunes, Nicolás
RevTeX 4.1. 35 pages, 10 Figures, 3 Tables

We introduce the Chimera scheme, a new framework to model the dynamics of generic extreme mass-ratio inspirals (stellar compact objects spiraling into a spinning super-massive black hole) and to produce the gravitational waveforms that describe the gravitational wave emission of these systems. The Chimera scheme combines techniques from black hole perturbation theory and post-Minkowskian theory. The orbital evolution is approximated as a sequence of osculating geodesics that shrink due to the stellar compact object’s self-acceleration. Lacking a general prescription for this self-force, we here approximate it locally in time via a post-Minkowskian expansion. The orbital evolution is thus equivalent to evolving the geodesic equations with time-dependent orbital elements, as dictated by this post-Minkowskian radiation-reaction prescription. Gravitational radiation is modeled via a multipolar expansion in post-Minkowskian theory, here taken up to mass hexadecapole and current octopole order. To complete the scheme, both the orbital evolution and wave generation require to map the Boyer-Lindquist coordinates of the orbits to the harmonic coordinates in which the different post-Minkowskian quantities have been derived, a mapping that we provide explicitly in this paper. The Chimera scheme is thus a combination of approximations that can be used to model generic inspirals of systems with extreme mass ratios to systems with more moderate mass ratios, and hence can provide valuable information for future space-based gravitational-wave observatories like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna and even for advanced ground detectors. Finally, due to the local character in time of our post-Minkowskian self-force, the Chimera scheme can be used to perform studies of the possible appearance of transient resonances in generic inspirals.

by Amaro-Seoane, Pau and Brem, Patrick and Cuadra, Jorge and Armitage, Philip J.
Submitted

Measurements of gravitational waves from the inspiral of a stellar-mass compact object into a massive black hole (MBH) are unique probes to test General Relativity (GR) and MBH properties, as well as the stellar distribution about these holes in galactic nuclei. Current data analysis techniques can provide us with parameter estimation with very narrow errors. However, an EMRI is not a two-body problem, since other stellar bodies orbiting nearby will influence the capture orbit. Any deviation from the isolated inspiral of the binary will induce a small, though observable deviation from the idealised waveform which could be misinterpreted as a failure of GR. Based on conservative analysis of mass segregation in a Milky Way like nucleus, we estimate that the possibility that a star has a semi-major axis comparable to that of the EMRI is non-negligible. This star introduces an observable perturbation in the orbit in the case in which we consider only loss of energy via gravitational radiation at periapsis. When considering the two first-order non-dissipative post-Newtonian contributions (the periapsis shift of the orbit) the evolution of the orbital elements of the EMRI turns out to be chaotic in nature. The implications of this study are twofold. From the one side, the application to testing GR and measuring MBHs parameters with the detection of EMRIs in galactic nuclei with a millihertz mission will be even more challenging than believed. From the other side, this behaviour could in principle be used as a signature of mass segregation in galactic nuclei.

by Nakano, Hiroyuki and Zlochower, Yosef and Lousto, Carlos O. and Campanelli, Manuela
23 pages, 35 figures, revtex4

We revisit the scenario of small-mass-ratio (q) black-hole binaries; performing new, more accurate, simulations of mass ratios 10:1 and 100:1 for initially nonspinning black holes. We propose fitting functions for the trajectories of the two black holes as a function of time and mass ratio (in the range 1/100 < q < 1/10$) that combine aspects of post-Newtonian trajectories at smaller orbital frequencies and plunging geodesics at larger frequencies. We then use these trajectories to compute waveforms via black hole perturbation theory. Using the advanced LIGO noise curve, we see a match of ~99.5% for the leading (l,m)=(2,2) mode between the numerical relativity and perturbative waveforms. Nonleading modes have similarly high matches. We thus prove the feasibility of efficiently generating a bank of gravitational waveforms in the intermediate-mass-ratio regime using only a sparse set of full numerical simulations.

by Zenginoğlu, Anıl and Khanna, Gaurav
12 pages, 7 figures

We describe the hyperboloidal compactification for Teukolsky equations in Kerr spacetime. We include null infinity on the numerical grid by attaching a hyperboloidal layer to a compact domain surrounding the rotating black hole and the orbit of an inspiralling point particle. This technique allows us to study, for the first time, gravitational waveforms from large- and extreme-mass-ratio inspirals in Kerr spacetime extracted at null infinity. Tests and comparisons of our results with previous calculations establish the accuracy and efficiency of the hyperboloidal layer method.

by Grossman, Rebecca and Levin, Janna and Perez-Giz, Gabe
30 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. D

Motivated by the prohibitive computational cost of producing adiabatic extreme mass ratio inspirals, we explain how a judicious use of resonant orbits can dramatically expedite both that calculation and the generation of snapshot gravitational waves from geodesic sources. In the course of our argument, we clarify the resolution of a lingering debate on the appropriate adiabatic averaging prescription in favor of torus averaging over time averaging.

by Huwyler, Cédric and Klein, Antoine and Jetzer, Philippe
26 pages, 28 figures

In this paper, we compute the accuracy at which the planned space-based gravitational wave detector LISA will be able to observe deviations from General Relativity. To do so, we introduce six correction parameters that account for modified gravity in the second post-Newtonian gravitational wave phase for inspiralling supermassive black hole binaries with spin precession on quasi-circular orbits. The precession of the spins and the angular momentum modulate the gravitational waveform, resulting in additional structure which could reduce correlations in the parameter space and increase the detection accuracy of the alternative theory parameters. Also, the use of higher harmonics could create further structure and increase the time during which the signal lasts in the frequency window of LISA. In order to find error distributions for the alternative theory parameters, we use the Fisher information formalism and carry out Monte Carlo simulations for 17 different binary black hole mass configurations in the range 10^5 Msun < M < 10^8 Msun with 10^3 randomly distributed points in the parameter space each, using the full (FWF) and restricted (RWF) version of the gravitational waveform. We find that the binaries can roughly be separated into two groups: one with low (\precsim 10^7 Msun) and one with high total masses (\succsim 10^7 Msun). The RWF errors on the alternative theory parameters are two orders of magnitude higher than the FWF errors for high-mass binaries while almost comparable for low-mass binaries. Due to dilution of the available information, the accuracy of the binary parameters is reduced by factors of a few, except for the luminosity distance which is affected more seriously in the high-mass regime. As an application, we compute an optimal lower bound on the graviton mass which is increased by a factor of ~1.5 when using the FWF.

by Han, Wen-Biao and Cao, Zhoujian
11 pages, 7 figures and 2 tables

A new scheme for computing dynamical evolutions and gravitational radiations for intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals (IMRIs) based on an effective one-body (EOB) dynamics plus Teukolsky perturbation theory is built in this paper. In the EOB framework, the dynamics essentially affects the resulted gravitational waveform for binary compact star system. This dynamics includes two parts. One is the conservative part which comes from effective one-body reduction. The other part is the gravitational back reaction which contributes to the shrinking process of the inspiral of binary compact star system. Previous works used analytical waveform to construct this back reaction term. Since the analytical form is based on post-Newtonian expansion, the consistency of this term is always checked by numerical energy flux. Here we directly use numerical energy flux by solving the Teukolsky equation via the frequency-domain method to construct this back reaction term. And the conservative correction to the leading order terms in mass-ratio is included in the deformed-Kerr metric and the EOB Hamiltonian. We try to use this method to simulate not only quasi-circular adiabatic inspiral but also the nonadiabatic plunge phase. For several different spinning black holes, we demonstrate and compare the resulted dynamical evolutions and gravitational waveforms.

by Levi, Michele
24 pages, revtex4-1, 5 figures

We calculate the next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) spin1-spin2 dynamics of a compact binary evaluated at fourth post-Newtonian (PN) order. We use an effective field theory (EFT) approach, and first demonstrate here the ability of the EFT approach to go at NNLO in the PN corrections of spin effects. The NNLO spin1-spin2 interaction sector includes contributions from diagrams, which are not pure spin1-spin2 diagrams, as they arise from other sectors. These diagrams contribute through the leading order spin accelerations and precessions, that should be first taken into account here. The EFT calculation is carried out in terms of the nonrelativistic gravitational (NRG) fields. The fact that the spin is derivative-coupled adds significantly to the complexity of computations. In particular, for the irreducible two-loop diagrams, which are the most complicated in this sector, irreducible two-loop tensor integrals up to order 4 are encountered. Moreover, not all of the benefits of the NRG fields apply to spin interactions, as all possible diagram topologies are realized at each order of G included. Still, the NRG fields remain advantageous, and thus there was no use of automated computations in this work. Our final result can be reduced, and a NNLO spin1-spin2 Hamiltonian can be derived from it.

by Hartung, Johannes and Steinhoff, Jan
7 pages, submitted to AdP

We present the next-to-next-to-leading order post-Newtonian (PN) spin(1)-spin(2) Hamiltonian for two self-gravitating spinning compact objects. If both objects are rapidly rotating, then the corresponding interaction is comparable in strength to a 4PN effect. The Hamiltonian is checked via the global Poincare algebra with the center-of-mass vector uniquely determined by an ansatz.

by Kelly, Bernard J. and Baker, John G. and Boggs, William D. and McWilliams, Sean T. and Centrella, Joan
19 pages, 17 figures

We conduct a descriptive analysis of the multipolar structure of gravitational-radiation waveforms from equal-mass aligned-spin mergers, following an approach first presented in the complementary context of nonspinning black holes of varying mass ratio [Baker et al., Phys. Rev. D 78:044046 (2008)]. We find that, as with the nonspinning mergers, the dominant waveform mode phases evolve together in lock-step through inspiral and merger, supporting the previous waveform description in terms of an adiabatically rigid rotator driving gravitational-wave emission — an implicit rotating source (IRS). We further apply the late-time merger-ringdown model for the rotational frequency introduced in Baker et al. (2008), along with an improved amplitude model appropriate for the dominant (2,+/- 2) modes. This provides a quantitative description of the merger-ringdown waveforms, and suggests that the major features of these waveforms can be described with reference only to the intrinsic parameters associated with the state of the final black hole formed in the merger. We provide an explicit model for the merger-ringdown radiation, and demonstrate that this model agrees to fitting factors better than 95% with the original numerical waveforms for system masses above ~ 150 MSun. This model may be directly applicable to gravitational-wave detection of intermediate-mass black hole mergers.

by Ohme, Frank and Hannam, Mark and Husa, Sascha
15 pages, 9 figures, PDFLaTeX

With recent advances in post-Newtonian (PN) theory and numerical relativity (NR) it has become possible to construct inspiral-merger-ringdown gravitational waveforms from coalescing compact binaries by combining both descriptions into one complete hybrid signal. It is important to estimate the error of such waveforms. Previous studies have identified the PN contribution as the dominant source of error, which can be reduced by incorporating longer NR simulations. There are two outstanding issues that make it difficult to determine the minimum simulation length necessary to produce suitably accurate hybrids: (1) the relevant criteria for a signal search is the mismatch between the true waveform and a set of model waveforms, optimized over all waveforms in the model. For discrete hybrids this optimization is not possible. (2) these calculations require that NR waveforms already exist, while ideally we would like to know the necessary length before performing the simulation. Here we overcome these difficulties by developing a general procedure that allows us to estimate hybrid mismatch errors without numerical data, and to optimize them over all physical parameters. Using this procedure we find that, contrary to some earlier studies, ~10 NR orbits before merger allow for the construction of waveform families that are accurate enough for detection in a broad range of parameters, only excluding highly spinning, unequal-mass systems. Nonspinning binaries, even with high mass-ratio (>20) are well modeled for astrophysically reasonable component masses. In addition, the parameter bias is only of the order of 1% for total mass and symmetric mass-ratio and less than 0.1 for the dimensionless spin magnitude. We take the view that similar NR waveform lengths will remain the state of the art in the Advanced detector era, and begin to assess the limits of the science that can be done with them.

by Babiuc, M. C. and Winicour, J. and Zlochower, Y.
11 pages, 7 figures

In this work, we present a work in progress towards an efficient and economical computational module which interfaces between Cauchy and characteristic evolution codes. Our goal is to provide a standardized waveform extraction tool for the numerical relativity community which will allow CCE to be readily applied to a generic Cauchy code. The tool provides a means of unambiguous comparison between the waveforms generated by evolution codes based upon different formulations of the Einstein equations and different numerical approximation.

by Pan, Yi and Buonanno, Alessandra and Boyle, Michael and Buchman, Luisa T. and Kidder, Lawrence E. and Pfeiffer, Harald P. and Scheel, Mark A.
26 pages, 25 figures

We calibrate an effective-one-body (EOB) model to numerical-relativity simulations of mass ratios 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, by maximizing phase and amplitude agreement of the leading (2,2) mode and of the subleading modes (2,1), (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5). Aligning the calibrated EOB waveforms and the numerical waveforms at low frequency, the phase difference of the (2,2) mode between model and numerical simulation remains below 0.1 rad throughout the evolution for all mass ratios considered. The fractional amplitude difference at peak amplitude of the (2,2) mode is 2% and grows to 12% during the ringdown. Using the Advanced LIGO noise curve we study the effectualness and measurement accuracy of the EOB model, and stress the relevance of modeling the higher-order modes for parameter estimation. We find that the effectualness, measured by the mismatch, between the EOB and numerical-relativity polarizations which include only the (2,2) mode is smaller than 0.2% for binaries with total mass 20-200 Msun and mass ratios 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. When numerical-relativity polarizations contain the strongest seven modes, and stellar-mass black holes with masses less than 50Msun are considered, the mismatch for mass ratio 6 (1) can be as high as 5% (0.2%) when only the EOB (2,2) mode is included, and an upper bound of the mismatch is 0.5% (0.07%) when all the four subleading EOB modes calibrated in this paper are taken into account. For binaries with intermediate-mass black holes with masses greater than 50Msun the mismatches are larger. We also determine for which signal-to-noise ratios the EOB model developed here can be used to measure binary parameters with systematic biases smaller than statistical errors due to detector noise.

by Blanchet, Luc and Buonanno, Alessandra and Faye, Guillaume
Submitted to Physical Review D

Gravitational waves contain tail effects which are due to the back-scattering of linear waves in the curved space-time geometry around the source. In this paper we improve the knowledge and accuracy of the two-body inspiraling post-Newtonian (PN) dynamics and gravitational-wave signal by computing the spin-orbit terms induced by tail effects. Notably, we derive those terms at 3PN order in the gravitational-wave energy flux, and 2.5PN and 3PN orders in the wave polarizations. This is then used to derive the spin-orbit tail effects in the phasing through 3PN order. Our results can be employed to carry out more accurate comparisons with numerical-relativity simulations and to improve the accuracy of analytical templates aimed at describing the all process of inspiral, merger and ringdown.

by Fujita, Ryuichi
4 pages, 2 figures

We derive gravitational waveforms needed to compute the 14th post-Newtonian (14PN) order energy flux, i.e. $latex v^{28}$ beyond Newtonian approximation where $latex v$ is the orbital velocity of a test particle, in a circular orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole. We exhibit clearly the convergence of the energy flux in the PN expansion and suggest the fitting formula which can be used for more general case. The phase difference between the 14PN waveforms and numerical waveforms after two years inspiral becomes about $latex 10^{-7}$ for $latex \mu/M=10^{-4}$ and $latex 10^{-3}$ for $latex \mu/M=10^{-5}$ where $latex \mu$ and $latex M$ are the masses of a compact object and a supermassive black hole at the centers of galaxies respectively. The 14PN expressions will lead to the parameter estimation comparable to numerical waveforms for extreme mass ratio inspirals, which are one of the main targets of Laser Interferometer Space Antenna.

by Kocsis, Bence and Yunes, Nicolas and Loeb, Abraham
42 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. D

We examine the electromagnetic (EM) and gravitational wave (GW) signatures of stellar-mass compact objects (COs) spiraling into a supermassive black hole (extreme mass-ratio inspirals or EMRIs), embedded in a thin, radiation-pressure dominated, accretion disk. At large separations, the tidal effect of the secondary CO clears a gap. We show that the gap refills during the late GW-driven phase of the inspiral, leading to a sudden EM brightening of the source. The accretion disk leaves an imprint on the GW through its angular momentum exchange with the binary, the mass increase of the binary members due to accretion, and its gravity. We compute the disk-modified GWs both in an analytical Newtonian approximation and in a numerical effective-one-body approach. We find that disk-induced migration provides the dominant perturbation to the inspiral, with weaker effects from the mass accretion onto the CO and hydrodynamic drag. Depending on whether a gap is present, the perturbation of the GW phase is between 10 and 1000 radians per year, detectable with the future Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) at high significance. The Fourier transform of the disk-modified GW in the stationary phase approximation is sensitive to disk parameters with a frequency trend different from post-Newtonian vacuum corrections. Our results suggest that observations of EMRIs may place new sensitive constraints on the physics of accretion disks.

by Zhang, Zhongyang and Yunes, Nicolas and Berti, Emanuele
9 pages, 8 figures

We study the effect of black hole spin on the accuracy of the post-Newtonian approximation. We focus on the gravitational energy flux for the quasicircular, equatorial, extreme mass-ratio inspiral of a compact object into a Kerr black hole of mass M and spin J. For a given dimensionless spin a=J/M^2 (in geometrical units), the energy flux depends only on the orbital velocity v or (equivalently) on the Boyer-Lindquist orbital radius r. We investigate the formal region of validity of the Taylor post-Newtonian expansion of the energy flux (which is known up to order v^8 beyond the quadrupole formula), generalizing previous work by two of us. The “error function” used to determine the region of validity of the post-Newtonian expansion can have two qualitatively different kinds of behavior, and we deal with these two cases separately. We find that, at any fixed post-Newtonian order, the edge of the region of validity (as measured by v/v_{ISCO}, where v_{ISCO} is the orbital velocity at the innermost stable circular orbit) is only weakly dependent on a. Unlike in the nonspinning case, the lack of sufficiently high order terms does not allow us to determine if there is a convergent to divergent transition at order v^6. Independently of a, the inclusion of angular multipoles up to and including l=5 in the numerical flux is necessary to achieve the level of accuracy of the best-known (N=8) PN expansion of the energy flux.

by Canizares, Priscilla and Sopuerta, Carlos F.
4 pages, 2 figures, JPCS latex style. Submitted to JPCS (special issue for the proceedings of the Spanish Relativity Meeting (ERE2010))

When a stellar-mass compact object is captured by a supermassive black hole located in a galactic centre, the system losses energy and angular momentum by the emission of gravitational waves. Subsequently, the stellar compact object evolves inspiraling until plunging onto the massive black hole. These EMRI systems are expected to be one of the main sources of gravitational waves for the future space-based Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). However, the detection of EMRI signals will require of very accurate theoretical templates taking into account the gravitational self-force, which is the responsible of the stellar-compact object inspiral. Due to its potential applicability on EMRIs, the obtention of an efficient method to compute the scalar self-force acting on a point-like particle orbiting around a massive black hole is being object of increasing interest. We present here a review of our time-domain numerical technique to compute the self-force acting on a point-like particle and we show its suitability to deal with both circular and eccentric orbits.

by Bernuzzi, Sebastiano and Nagar, Alessandro and Zenginoglu, Anil

We discuss the properties of the effective-one-body (EOB) multipolar gravitational waveform emitted by nonspinning black-hole binaries of masses $latex \mu$ and $latex M$ in the extreme-mass-ratio limit, $latex \mu/M=\nu\ll 1$. We focus on the transition from quasicircular inspiral to plunge, merger and ringdown.We compare the EOB waveform to a Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli (RWZ) waveform computed using the hyperboloidal layer method and extracted at null infinity. Because the EOB waveform keeps track analytically of most phase differences in the early inspiral, we do not allow for any arbitrary time or phase shift between the waveforms. The dynamics of the particle, common to both wave-generation formalisms, is driven by leading-order $latex {\cal O}(\nu)$ analytically–resummed radiation reaction. The EOB and the RWZ waveforms have an initial dephasing of about $latex 5\times 10^{-4}$ rad and maintain then a remarkably accurate phase coherence during the long inspiral ($latex \sim 33$ orbits), accumulating only about $latex -2\times 10^{-3}$ rad until the last stable orbit, i.e. $latex \Delta\phi/\phi\sim -5.95\times 10^{-6}$. We obtain such accuracy without calibrating the analytically-resummed EOB waveform to numerical data, which indicates the aptitude of the EOB waveform for LISA-oriented studies. We then improve the behavior of the EOB waveform around merger by introducing and tuning next-to-quasi-circular corrections both in the gravitational wave amplitude and phase. For each multipole we tune only four next-to-quasi-circular parameters by requiring compatibility between EOB and RWZ waveforms at the light-ring. The resulting phase difference around merger time is as small as $latex \pm 0.015$ rad, with a fractional amplitude agreement of $latex 2.5%$. This suggest that next-to-quasi-circular corrections to the phase can be a useful ingredient in comparisons between EOB and numerical relativity waveforms.

by Buonanno, Alessandra and Kidder, Lawrence E. and Mroué, Abdul H. and Pfeiffer, Harald P. and Taracchini, Andrea
17 pages, 11 figures

Building initial conditions for generic binary black-hole evolutions without initial spurious eccentricity remains a challenge for numerical-relativity simulations. This problem can be overcome by applying an eccentricity-removal procedure which consists in evolving the binary for a couple of orbits, estimating the eccentricity, and then correcting the initial conditions. The presence of spins can complicate this procedure. As predicted by post-Newtonian theory, spin-spin interactions and precession prevent the binary from moving along an adiabatic sequence of spherical orbits, inducing oscillations in the radial separation and in the orbital frequency. However, spin-induced oscillations occur at approximately twice the orbital frequency, therefore they can be distinguished from the initial spurious eccentricity, which occurs at approximately the orbital frequency. We develop a new removal procedure based on the derivative of the orbital frequency and find that it is successful in reducing the eccentricity measured in the orbital frequency to less than 0.0001 when moderate spins are present. We test this new procedure using numerical-relativity simulations of binary black holes with mass ratios 1.5 and 3, spin magnitude 0.5 and various spin orientations. The numerical simulations exhibit spin-induced oscillations in the dynamics at approximately twice the orbital frequency. Oscillations of similar frequency are also visible in the gravitational-wave phase and frequency of the dominant mode.

by Sturani, R. and Fischetti, S. and Cadonati, L. and Guidi, G. M. and Healy, J. and Shoemaker, D. and Vicere’, A.
8 pages, 2 figures. Proceeding of the NRDA-CAPRA 2010 conference

An accurate knowledge of the coalescing binary gravitational waveform is crucial for match filtering techniques, which are currently used in the observational searches performed by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration. Following an earlier paper by the same authors we expose the construction of analytical phenomenological waveforms describing the signal sourced by generically spinning binary systems. The gap between the initial inspiral part of the waveform, described by spin-Taylor approximants, and its final ring-down part, described by damped exponentials, is bridged by a phenomenological phase calibrated by comparison with the dominant spherical harmonic mode of a set of waveforms including both numerical and phenomenological waveforms of a different type. All waveforms considered describe equal mass systems with dimension-less spin magnitudes equal to 0.6. The noise-weighted overlap integral between numerical and phenomenological waveforms ranges between 0.93 and 0.98 for a wide span of mass values.

by Gair, Jonathan R. and Flanagan, Eanna E. and Drasco, Steve and Hinderer, Tanja and Babak, Stanislav
27 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D

We present two methods for integrating forced geodesic equations in the Kerr spacetime, which can accommodate arbitrary forces. As a test case, we compute inspirals under a simple drag force, mimicking the presence of gas. We verify that both methods give the same results for this simple force. We find that drag generally causes eccentricity to increase throughout the inspiral. This is a relativistic effect qualitatively opposite to what is seen in gravitational-radiation-driven inspirals, and similar to what is observed in hydrodynamic simulations of gaseous binaries. We provide an analytic explanation by deriving the leading order relativistic correction to the Newtonian dynamics. If observed, an increasing eccentricity would provide clear evidence that the inspiral was occurring in a non-vacuum environment. Our two methods are especially useful for evolving orbits in the adiabatic regime. Both use the method of osculating orbits, in which each point on the orbit is characterized by the parameters of the geodesic with the same instantaneous position and velocity. Both methods describe the orbit in terms of the geodesic energy, axial angular momentum, Carter constant, azimuthal phase, and two angular variables that increase monotonically and are relativistic generalizations of the eccentric anomaly. The two methods differ in their treatment of the orbital phases and the representation of the force. In one method the geodesic phase and phase constant are evolved together as a single orbital phase parameter, and the force is expressed in terms of its components on the Kinnersley orthonormal tetrad. In the second method, the phase constants of the geodesic motion are evolved separately and the force is expressed in terms of its Boyer-Lindquist components. This second approach is a generalization of earlier work by Pound and Poisson for planar forces in a Schwarzschild background.

by Nakano, Hiroyuki and Campanelli, Manuela and Lousto, Carlos O. and Zlochower, Yosef
Proceedings of Theory Meets Data Analysis at Comparable and Extreme Mass Ratios (NRDA/Capra 2010), Perimeter Institute, June 2010 – 12 pages

Recently, we proposed an enhancement of the Regge-Wheeler-Zerilli formalism for first-order perturbations about a Schwarzschild background that includes first-order corrections due to the background black-hole spin. Using this formalism, we investigate gravitational wave recoil effects from a spinning black-hole binary system analytically. This allows us to better understand the origin of the large recoils observed in full numerical simulation of spinning black hole binaries.

by Centrella, Joan M. and Baker, John G. and Kelly, Bernard J. and van Meter, James R.
53 pages, 42 figures. Review article submitted to Reviews of Modern Physics

Understanding the predictions of general relativity for the dynamical interactions of two black holes has been a long-standing unsolved problem in theoretical physics. Black-hole mergers are monumental astrophysical events, releasing tremendous amounts of energy in the form of gravitational radiation, and are key sources for both ground- and space-based gravitational wave detectors. The black-hole merger dynamics and the resulting gravitational waveforms can only be calculated through numerical simulations of Einstein’s equations of general relativity. For many years, numerical relativists attempting to model these mergers encountered a host of problems, causing their codes to crash after just a fraction of a binary orbit could be simulated. Recently, however, a series of dramatic advances in numerical relativity has, for the first time, allowed stable, robust black hole merger simulations. We chronicle this remarkable progress in the rapidly maturing field of numerical relativity, and the new understanding of black-hole binary dynamics that is emerging. We also discuss important applications of these fundamental physics results to astrophysics, to gravitational-wave astronomy, and in other areas.

by Yunes, Nicolas and Miller, M. Coleman and Thornburg, Jonathan
9 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D

Extreme mass ratio inspirals, in which a stellar-mass object merges with a supermassive black hole, are prime sources for space-based gravitational wave detectors because they will facilitate tests of strong gravity and probe the spacetime around rotating compact objects. In the last few years of such inspirals, the total phase is in the millions of radians and details of the waveforms are sensitive to small perturbations. We show that one potentially detectable perturbation is the presence of a second supermassive black hole within a few tenths of a parsec. The acceleration produced by the perturber on the extreme mass-ratio system produces a steady drift that causes the waveform to deviate systematically from that of an isolated system. If the perturber is a few tenths of a parsec from the extreme-mass ratio system (plausible in as many as a few percent of cases) higher derivatives of motion might also be detectable. In that case, the mass and distance of the perturber can be derived independently, which would allow a new probe of merger dynamics.

by Centrella, Joan M. and Baker, John G. and Kelly, Bernard J. and van Meter, James R.
56 pages; 9 figures. Review article in press with Annual Review of Nuclear and Particle Physics, vol. 60

Recent breakthroughs in the field of numerical relativity have led to dramatic progress in understanding the predictions of General Relativity for the dynamical interactions of two black holes in the regime of very strong gravitational fields. Such black-hole binaries are important astrophysical systems and are a key target of current and developing gravitational-wave detectors. The waveform signature of strong gravitational radiation emitted as the black holes fall together and merge provides a clear observable record of the process. After decades of slow progress, these mergers and the gravitational-wave signals they generate can now be routinely calculated using the methods of numerical relativity. We review recent advances in understanding the predicted physics of events and the consequent radiation, and discuss some of the impacts this new knowledge is having in various areas of astrophysics.

by Carré, Jérôme and Porter, Edward K.
Submitted to Classical Quantum Gravity, 11 pages, four figures

In the last few years there has been an enormous effort in parameter estimation studies for different sources with the space based gravitational wave detector, LISA. While these studies have investigated sources of differing complexity, the one thing they all have in common is they assume continuous data streams. In reality, the LISA data stream will contain gaps from such possible events such as repointing of the satellite antennae, to discharging static charge build up on the satellites, to disruptions due to micro-meteor strikes. In this work we conduct a large scale Monte Carlo parameter estimation simulation for galactic binaries assuming data streams containing gaps. As the expected duration and frequency of the gaps are currently unknown, we have decided to focus on gaps of approximately one hour, occurring either once per day or once per week. We also study the case where, as well as the expected periodic gaps, we have a data drop-out of one continuous week. Our results show that for for galactic binaries, a gap of once per week introduces a bias of between 0.5% and 1% in the estimation of parameters, for the most important parameters such as the sky position, amplitude and frequency. This number rises to between 3% and 7% for the case of one gap a day, and to between 4% and 9% when we have one gap a day and a spurious gap of a week. A future study will investigate the effect of data gaps on supermassive black hole binaries and extreme mass ratio inspirals.

by Tinto, Massimo and Alves, Márcio Eduardo da Silva
Paper submitted to Physical Review D. It is 20 pages long and contains 14 figures

The direct observation of gravitational waves will provide a unique tool for probing the dynamical properties of highly compact astrophysical objects, mapping ultra-relativistic regions of space-time, and testing Einstein’s general theory of relativity. LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), a joint NASA-ESA mission to be launched in the next decade, will perform these scientific tasks by detecting and studying low-frequency cosmic gravitational waves through their influence on the phases of six modulated laser beams exchanged between three remote spacecraft. By directly measuring the polarization components of the waves LISA will detect, we will be able to test Einstein’s theory of relativity with good sensitivity. Since a gravitational wave signal predicted by the most general relativistic metric theory of gravity accounts for {\it six} polarization modes (the usual two Einstein’s tensor polarizations as well as two vector and two scalar wave components), we have derived the LISA Time-Delay Interferometric responses and estimated their sensitivities to vector- and scalar-type waves. We find that (i) at frequencies larger than roughly the inverse of the one-way light time ($latex \approx 6 \times 10^{-2} $ Hz.) LISA is more than ten times sensitive to scalar-longitudinal and vector signals than to tensor and scalar-transverse waves, and (ii) in the low part of its frequency band is equally sensitive to tensor and vector waves and somewhat less sensitive to scalar signals.

by Yunes, Nicolas and Buonanno, Alessandra and Hughes, Scott A. and Pan, Yi and Barausse, Enrico and Miller, M. Coleman and Throwe, William
21 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D

We construct effective-one-body waveform models suitable for data analysis with LISA for extreme-mass ratio inspirals in quasi-circular, equatorial orbits about a spinning supermassive black hole. The accuracy of our model is established through comparisons against frequency-domain, Teukolsky-based waveforms in the radiative approximation. The calibration of eight high-order post-Newtonian parameters in the energy flux suffices to obtain a phase and fractional amplitude agreement of better than 1 radian and 1 % respectively over a period between 2 and 6 months depending on the system considered. This agreement translates into matches higher than 97 % over a period between 4 and 9 months, depending on the system. Better agreements can be obtained if a larger number of calibration parameters are included. Higher-order mass ratio terms in the effective-one-body Hamiltonian and radiation-reaction introduce phase corrections of at most 30 radians in a one year evolution. These corrections are usually one order of magnitude larger than those introduced by the spin of the small object in a one year evolution. These results suggest that the effective-one-body approach for extreme mass ratio inspirals is a good compromise between accuracy and computational price for LISA data analysis purposes.

by Damour, T. and Trias, M. and Nagar, A.
29 pages, 7 figures, 1 table

The coalescences of binary black hole (BBH) systems, here taken to be non-spinning, are among the most promising sources for gravitational wave (GW) ground-based detectors, such as LIGO and Virgo. To detect the GW signals emitted by BBHs, and measure the parameters of the source, one needs to have in hand a bank of GW templates that are both effectual (for detection), and accurate (for measurement). We study the effectualness and the accuracy of the two types of parametrized banks of templates that are directly defined in the frequency-domain by means of closed-form expressions, namely ‘post-Newtonian’ (PN) and ‘phenomenological’ models. In absence of knowledge of the exact waveforms, our study assumes as fiducial, target waveforms the ones generated by the most accurate version of the effective one body (EOB) formalism. We find that, for initial GW detectors the use, at each point of parameter space, of the best closed-form template (among PN and phenomenological models) leads to an effectualness >97% over the entire mass range and >99% in an important fraction of parameter space; however, when considering advanced detectors, both of the closed-form frequency-domain models fail to be effectual enough in significant domains of the two-dimensional [total mass and mass ratio] parameter space. Moreover, we find that, both for initial and advanced detectors, the two closed-form frequency-domain models fail to satisfy the minimal required accuracy standard in a very large domain of the two-dimensional parameter space. In addition, a side result of our study is the determination, as a function of the mass ratio, of the maximum frequency at which a frequency-domain PN waveform can be ‘joined’ onto a NR-calibrated EOB waveform without undue loss of accuracy.

by Huerta, E. A. and Gair, Jonathan R
6 pages, 1 figure, submitted to proceedings of the 8th International LISA Symposium, Stanford, June 28 – July 2, 2010

It is not currently clear how important it will be to include conservative self-force (SF) corrections in the models for extreme-mass-ratio inspiral (EMRI) waveforms that will be used to detect such signals in LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) data. These proceedings will address this issue for circular-equatorial inspirals using an approximate EMRI model that includes conservative corrections at leading post-Newtonian order. We will present estimates of the magnitude of the parameter estimation errors that would result from omitting conservative corrections, and compare these to the errors that will arise from noise fluctuations in the detector. We will also use this model to explore the relative importance of the second-order radiative piece of the SF, which is not presently known.

by Amaro-Seoane, Pau and Freitag, Marc Dewi
A small note of 5 pages, submitted to MNRAS letts

Two coalescing black holes (BHs) represent a conspicuous source of gravitational waves (GWs). The merger involves 17 parameters in the general case of Kerr BHs, so that a successful identification and parameter extraction of the information encoded in the waves will provide us with a detailed description of the physics of BHs. A search based on matched-filtering for characterization and parameter extraction requires the development of some $latex 10^{15}$ waveforms. If a third additional BH perturbed the system, the waveforms would not be applicable, and we would need to increase the number of templates required for a valid detection. In this letter, we calculate the probability that more than two BHs interact in the regime of strong relativity in a dense stellar cluster. We determine the physical properties necessary in a stellar system for three black holes to have a close encounter in this regime and also for an existing binary of two BHs to have a strong interaction with a third hole. In both cases the event rate is negligible. While dense stellar systems such as galactic nuclei, globular clusters and nuclear stellar clusters are the breeding grounds for the sources of gravitational waves that ground-based and space-borne detectors like Advanced LIGO and LISA will be exploring, the analysis of the waveforms in full general relativity needs only to evaluate the two-body problem. This reduces the number of templates of waveforms to create by orders of magnitude.

by Levin, Janna and Contreras, Hugo

We compile the equations of motion describing the most general black hole binaries as computed by Will and collaborators. We use the equations converted to Hamiltonian variables to consider spinning and precessing and eccentric pairs. We find that while spin-spin coupling corrections can destroy constant radius orbits in principle, the effect is so small that orbits will reliably tend to quasi-spherical as angular momentum and energy are lost to gravitational radiation. Still, highly eccentric pairs can retain eccentricity by the time of plunge. We also show that three natural frequencies of an orbit demonstrating both spin precession and perihelion precession are the frequency of angular motion in the orbital plane, the frequency of the plane precession, and the frequency of radial oscillations. These three shape the waveform. The pattern of energy lost during the inspiral is also directly related to these same natural harmonics.

by Favata, Marc
26 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables

[abridged] Barack & Sago have recently computed the shift of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) due to the conservative self-force that arises from the finite-mass of an orbiting test-particle. This is one of the first concrete results of the self-force program, and provides an exact point of comparison with approximate post-Newtonian (PN) computations of the ISCO. Here this exact ISCO shift is compared with nearly all known PN-based methods. These include both “non-resummed” and “resummed” approaches (the latter reproduce the test-particle limit by construction). The best agreement with the exact result is found from effective-one-body (EOB) calculations that are fit to numerical relativity simulations. However, if one considers uncalibrated methods based only on the currently-known 3PN-order conservative dynamics, the best agreement is found from the gauge-invariant ISCO condition of Blanchet and Iyer (2003). This method reproduces the exact test-particle limit without any resummation. A comparison of PN methods with the equal-mass ISCO is also performed. The results of this study suggest that the EOB approach—while exactly incorporating the conservative test-particle dynamics—does not (in the absence of calibration) incorporate conservative self-force effects more accurately than standard PN methods. I also consider how the conservative self-force ISCO shift, combined with numerical relativity computations of the ISCO, can be used to constrain our knowledge of (1) the EOB effective metric, (2) phenomenological inspiral-merger-ringdown templates, and (3) 4PN and 5PN order terms in the PN orbital energy. These constraints could help in constructing better gravitational-wave templates. Lastly, I suggest a new method to calibrate unknown PN-terms in inspiral templates using “low-cost” numerical-relativity calculations.

by Lousto, Carlos O. and Nakano, Hiroyuki and Zlochower, Yosef and Campanelli, Manuela
31 pages, 33 figures revtex 4

We describe in detail full numerical and perturbative techniques to compute the gravitational radiation from intermediate mass ratio (IMR) black-hole-binary (BHB) inspirals and mergers. We perform a series of full numerical simulations of nonspinning black holes with mass ratios q=1/10 and q=1/15 from different initial separations and for different finite difference resolutions. The highest resolution runs reach phase accuracies with errors <0.05 radians when the gravitational wave frequency is 0.2/M. In order to perform those full numerical runs, we adapted the gauge of the moving punctures approach with a variable damping term for the shift. We also derive an extrapolation (to infinite radius) formula for the waveform extracted at finite radius. For the perturbative evolutions we use the full numerical tracks, transformed into the Schwarzschild gauge, in the source terms of the Regge-Wheller-Zerilli Schwarzschild perturbations formalism. We then extend this perturbative formalism to take into account small intrinsic spins of the large black hole, and validate it by computing the quasinormal mode (QNM) frequencies, where we find good agreement for spins |a/M|<0.3. Including the final spins improves the overlap functions when comparing full numerical and perturbative waveforms, reaching 99.5% for the leading (l,m)=(2,2) and (3,3) modes, and 98.3% for the nonleading (2,1) mode in the q=1/10 case, which includes 8 orbits before merger. For the q=1/15 case, we obtain overlaps near 99.7% for all three modes. We discuss the modeling of the full inspiral and merger based on a combined matching of Post-Newtonian, Full Numerical, and Geodesic trajectories.

by Hannam, Mark and Husa, Sascha and Ohme, Frank and Ajith, P.
13 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables

One way to produce complete inspiral-merger-ringdown gravitational waveforms from black-hole-binary systems is to connect post-Newtonian (PN) and numerical-relativity (NR) results to create “hybrid” waveforms. Hybrid waveforms are central to the construction of some phenomenological models for GW search templates, and for tests of GW search pipelines. The dominant error source in hybrid waveforms arises from the PN contribution, and can be reduced by increasing the number of NR GW cycles that are included in the hybrid. Hybrid waveforms are considered sufficiently accurate for GW detection if their mismatch error is below 3% (i.e., a fitting factor about 0.97). We address the question of the length requirements of NR waveforms such that the final hybrid waveforms meet this requirement, considering nonspinning binaries with q = M_2/M_1 \in [1,4] and equal-mass binaries with \chi = S_i/M_i^2 \in [-0.5,0.5]. We conclude that for the cases we study simulations must contain between three (in the equal-mass nonspinning case) and ten (the \chi = 0.5 case) orbits before merger, but there is also evidence that these are the regions of parameter space for which the least number of cycles will be needed.

by Cornish, Neil J.
4 pages, no figures

Theoretical studies in gravitational wave astronomy often require the calculation of Fisher Information Matrices and Likelihood functions, which in a direct approach entail the costly step of computing gravitational waveforms. Here I describe an alternative technique that sidesteps the need to compute full waveforms, resulting in significant computational savings. I describe how related techniques can be used to speed up Bayesian inference applied to real gravitational wave data.

by Hannam, Mark and Husa, Sascha and Ohme, Frank and Mueller, Doreen and Bruegmann, Bernd
20 pages, 9 figures, 6 tables

We present gravitational waveforms for the last orbits and merger of black-hole-binary (BBH) systems along two branches of the BBH parameter space: equal-mass binaries with equal non-precessing spins, and nonspinning unequal-mass binaries. The waveforms are calculated from numerical solutions of Einstein’s equations for black-hole binaries that complete between six and ten orbits before merger. Along the equal-mass spinning branch, the spin parameter of each BH is $latex \chi_i = S_i/M_i^2 \in [-0.85,0.85]$, and along the unequal-mass branch the mass ratio is $latex q =M_2/M_1 \in [1,4]$. We discuss the construction of low-eccentricity puncture initial data for these cases, the properties of the final merged BH, and compare the last 8-10 GW cycles up to $latex M\omega = 0.1$ with the phase and amplitude predicted by standard post-Newtonian (PN) approximants. As in previous studies, we find that the phase from the 3.5PN TaylorT4 approximant is most accurate for nonspinning binaries. For equal-mass spinning binaries the 3.5PN TaylorT1 approximant (including spin terms up to only 2.5PN order) gives the most robust performance, but it is possible to treat TaylorT4 in such a way that it gives the best accuracy for spins $latex \chi_i > -0.75$. When high-order amplitude corrections are included, the PN amplitude of the $latex (\ell=2,m=\pm2)$ modes is larger than the NR amplitude by between 2-4%.

by Nichols, David A. and Chen, Yanbei
13 pages, 6 figures, 1 table, revtex4 format

Black-hole-binary coalescence is often divided into three stages: inspiral, merger and ringdown. The post-Newtonian (PN) approximation treats the inspiral phase, black-hole perturbation (BHP) theory describes the ringdown, and the nonlinear dynamics of spacetime characterize the merger. In this paper, we introduce a hybrid method that incorporates elements of PN and BHP theories, and we apply it to the head-on collision of black holes with transverse, anti-parallel spins. We compare our approximation technique with a full numerical-relativity simulation, and we find good agreement between the gravitational waveforms and the radiated energy and momentum. Our results suggest that PN and BHP theories may suffice to explain the main features of outgoing gravitational radiation for head-on mergers. This would further imply that linear perturbations to exact black-hole solutions can capture the nonlinear aspects of head-on binary-black-hole mergers accessible to observers far from the collision.

by Tessmer, Manuel and Schaefer, Gerhard
28 pages

The article provides ready-to-use 1pN-accurate frequency-domain gravitational wave forms for eccentric nonspinning compact binaries of arbitrary mass ratio including the first post-Newtonian (1pN) point particle corrections to the far-zone gravitational wave amplitude, given in terms of tensor spherical harmonics. The averaged equations for the decay of the eccentricity and growth of radial frequency due to radiation reaction are used to provide stationary phase approximations to the frequency-domain wave forms.

by Klein, Antoine and Jetzer, Philippe
7 pages, 1 figure; Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D

We compute here the spin-orbit and spin-spin couplings needed for an accurate computation of the phasing of gravitational waves emitted by comparable-mass binaries on eccentric orbits at the second post-Newtonian (PN) order. We use a quasi-Keplerian parametrization of the orbit free of divergencies in the zero eccentricity limit. We find that spin-spin couplings induce a residual eccentricity for coalescing binaries at 2PN, of the order of $latex 10^{-4}$-$latex 10^{-3}$ for supermassive black hole binaries in the LISA band. Spin-orbit precession also induces a non-trivial pattern in the evolution of the eccentricity, which could help to reduce the errors on the determination of the eccentricity and spins in a gravitational wave measurement.

by Finn, Lee Samuel and Lommen, Andrea N.
43 pages, 13 figures, submitted to ApJ.

Efforts to detect gravitational waves by timing an array of pulsars have focused traditionally on stationary gravitational waves: e.g., stochastic or periodic signals. Gravitational wave bursts — signals whose duration is much shorter than the observation period — will also arise in the pulsar timing array waveband. Sources that give rise to detectable bursts include the formation or coalescence of supermassive black holes (SMBHs), the periapsis passage of compact objects in highly elliptic or unbound orbits about a SMBH, or cusps on cosmic strings. Here we describe how pulsar timing array data may be analyzed to detect and characterize these bursts. Our analysis addresses, in a mutually consistent manner, a hierarchy of three questions: \emph{i}) What are the odds that a dataset includes the signal from a gravitational wave burst? \emph{ii}) Assuming the presence of a burst, what is the direction to its source? and \emph{iii}) Assuming the burst propagation direction, what is the burst waveform’s time dependence in each of its polarization states? Applying our analysis to synthetic data sets we find that we can \emph{detect} gravitational waves even when the radiation is too weak to either localize the source of infer the waveform, and \emph{detect} and \emph{localize} sources even when the radiation amplitude is too weak to permit the waveform to be determined. While the context of our discussion is gravitational wave detection via pulsar timing arrays, the analysis itself is directly applicable to gravitational wave detection using either ground or space-based detector data.

by Cornish, Neil J. and Key, Joey Shapiro
9 pages

Several scenarios have been proposed in which the orbits of binary black holes enter the band of a gravitational wave detector with significant eccentricity. To avoid missing these signals or biasing the parameter estimation it is important that we consider waveform models that account for eccentricity. The ingredients needed to compute post-Newtonian (PN) waveforms produced by spinning black holes inspiralling on quasi-eccentric orbits have been available for almost two decades at 2 PN order, and this work has recently been extended to 2.5 PN order. However, the computational cost of directly implementing these waveforms is high, requiring many steps per orbit to evolve the system of coupled differential equations. Here we employ a separation of timescales and a generalized Keplarian parameterization of the orbits to produce efficient waveforms describing spinning black hole binaries with arbitrary spin orientations on quasi-eccentric orbits to 1.5 PN order. Our solution includes the spin contributions to the decay of the semi-major axis and eccentricity. We outline a scheme for extending our approach to higher post-Newtonian order.

by Mueller, Doreen and Grigsby, Jason and Bruegmann, Bernd
10 pages, 14 figures

Certain numerical frameworks used for the evolution of binary black holes make use of a gamma driver, which includes a damping factor. Such simulations typically use a constant value for damping. However, it has been found that very specific values of the damping factor are needed for the calculation of unequal mass binaries. We examine carefully the role this damping plays, and provide two explicit, non-constant forms for the damping to be used with mass-ratios further from one. Our analysis of the resultant waveforms compares well against the constant damping case.

by Favata, Marc
11 pages, 2 figures; proceedings of the 8th Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves (New York, June 2009); accepted for publication in special issue of Classical and Quantum Gravity

The nonlinear memory effect is a slowly-growing, non-oscillatory contribution to the gravitational-wave amplitude. It originates from gravitational waves that are sourced by the previously emitted waves. In an ideal gravitational-wave interferometer a gravitational-wave with memory causes a permanent displacement of the test masses that persists after the wave has passed. Surprisingly, the nonlinear memory affects the signal amplitude starting at leading (Newtonian-quadrupole) order. Despite this fact, the nonlinear memory is not easily extracted from current numerical relativity simulations. After reviewing the linear and nonlinear memory I summarize some recent work, including: (1) computations of the memory contribution to the inspiral waveform amplitude (thus completing the waveform to third post-Newtonian order); (2) the first calculations of the nonlinear memory that include all phases of binary black hole coalescence (inspiral, merger, ringdown); and (3) realistic estimates of the detectability of the memory with LISA.