Preface; Suggestions for using this book; 1. General relativity preliminaries; 2. The 3+1 decomposition of Einstein's equations; 3. Constructing initial data; 4. Choosing coordinates: the lapse and shift; 5. Matter sources; 6. Numerical methods; 7. Locating black hole horizons; 8. Spherically symmetric spacetimes; 9. Gravitational waves; 10. Collapse of collisionless clusters in axisymmetry; 11. Recasting the evolution equations; 12. Binary black hole initial data; 13. Binary black hole evolution; 14. Rotating stars; 15. Binary neutron star initial data; 16. Binary neutron star evolution; 17. Binary black hole-neutron stars: initial data and evolution; 18. Epilogue; Appendixes; References; Index.
Pedagogical introduction to numerical relativity for students and researchers entering the field, and interested scientists.
Thomas W. Baumgarte is a Professor of Physics at Bowdoin College, and an Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his Diploma (1993) and Doctorate (1995) from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, and held postdoctoral positions at Cornell University and the University of Illinois before joining the faculty at Bowdoin College. He is a recipient of a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship. He has written over 65 research articles on a variety of topics in general relativity and relativistic astrophysics, including black holes and neutron stars, gravitational collapse, and more formal mathematical issues. Stuart L. Shapiro is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his A.B. from Harvard (1969) and his Ph.D. from Princeton (1973). He has published over 335 research articles spanning many topics in general relativity and theoretical astrophysics and co-authored the widely used textbook Black Holes, White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars; The Physics of Compact Objects (John Wiley, 1983). In addition to numerical relativity, Shapiro has worked on the physics and astrophysics of black holes and neutron stars, relativistic hydrodynamics, magnetohydrodynamics and stellar dynamics, and the generation of gravitational waves. He is a recipient of an IBM Supercomputing Award, a Forefronts of Large-Scale Computation Award, an Alfred P. Snow Research Fellowship, a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship, and several teaching citations. He has served on the editorial boards of The Astrophysical Journal Letters and Classical and Quantum Gravity. He was elected Fellow of both the American Physical Society and Institute of Physics (UK).
'Numerical relativity has come of age in the last few years, and
Baumgarte and Shapiro have produced the first textbook on the
subject. And what a book this is! Sufficiently complete to be an
encyclopedia, yet accessible enough to be a genuine learning
manual, the book is exceedingly well written. It covers virtually
all aspects of numerical relativity, from formalism to the most
modern application, and it is replete with beautiful and helpful
diagrams. The book will serve as a useful reference to the
researcher, and a source of enlightenment to many a student.' Eric
Poisson, University of Guelph
'Numerical relativity has come of age with a number of recent
breakthroughs. Two leading experts give a lucid as well as richly
detailed account building a bridge from the basics to current
research - highly recommended.' Bernd Brügmann,
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität
'Over the last five years, there have been impressive advances in
numerical relativity. It has now become a central area in the fast
growing field of gravitational wave physics. These tools have
played an important role also in the theory of critical phenomena
associated with gravitational collapse, loop quantum cosmology and
the discussion of quantum black holes and black branes. The book by
Baumgarte and Shapiro provides an excellent introduction to the
subject covering both, mathematical aspects and numerical
techniques. The authors are world leaders in numerical relativity
and their contributions have shaped neutron star simulations, the
new frontier of this field. This book will soon become the standard
advanced text for younger researchers entering the field and will
also serve as the authoritative reference for senior researchers in
numerical relativity and neighboring fields.' Abhay Ashtekhar,
Director, Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos, Pennsylvania
State University
'Quiescent black holes are well understood, but until recently
nobody could calculate how they behave when they collide with each
other, or are in the process of formation. Recent breakthroughs
make such computations possible - an advance that is crucially
important for understanding galactic nuclei and gravitational
waves. Baumgarte and Shapiro are established leaders in this
subject. Their book is a timely contribution to the literature, and
the ideal primer for researchers newly attracted to the burgeoning
field of computational relativity.' Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal
and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge
' … a well-written overview that includes a brief introduction to
general relativity … and tips on matter sources of a gravitational
field … the authors aim to make Numerical Relativity useful as a
graduate-level textbook and not just a reference. That feature, and
the text's coverage of neutron stars, distinguishes it from the
other comprehensive treatments of the subject … It is difficult to
imagine that a book covering a field at the intersection of
multiple disciplines could please all possible audiences.
Nonetheless, Numerical Relativity hits the mark in its quite
comprehensive coverage. It will be useful for practitioners in the
field and especially to graduate students wishing to join them in
this active and exciting area of research.' Physics Today
'… an interesting and valuable contribution to the literature on
this subject.' Cern Courier
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