Dynamic singularity excision in numerical relativity

by 1978- Smith, Kenneth L.

We present here recent developments in the technique of singularity excision. With the ultimate goal of developing a generic code which will evolve single or multiple-black hole spacetimes until late times (with reference to the typical dynamical timescales of the problem being studied), we focus our attention on the numerical treatment of the “inner” boundaries of the black hole problem. The physical singularities inherent to black hole spacetimes pose enormous difficulties to the numerical implementations of the evolution equations, and, in general, should not be allowed to be part of the computational domain of evolution. Of the several methods available for enforcing this, singularity excision is one of the most straightforward to apply. We discuss the background, implementation, and results of our dynamic singularity algorithm which allows for movement of black holes through the computational grid and allows for long-lived evolutions of single and binary black hole spacetimes under certain circumstances to be discussed within. iv