Numerical simulation of a black-hole merger with asymmetric masses and orbital precession (GW190412)

Numerical simulation of a black-hole binary merger with asymmetric masses and orbital precession (GW190412).

Numerical simulation of two black holes that inspiral and merge, emitting gravitational waves. One black hole is 3.5x more massive than the other and spins, which makes the orbit precess. The simulated gravitational wave signal is consistent with the observation made by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors on April 12th, 2019 (GW190412).

Details on the visualization:
* The „apparent horizon“ of the black holes in the simulation are shown in black. At 1:09 the simulation finds an enveloping apparent horizon that signals the two black holes have merged.
* The gravitational radiation is translated to colors around the black holes. The colors transition from blue, representing weak radiation, to red, representing strong radiation. Specifically, the coloring represents the real part of the gravitational wave strain with its inverse radial scaling removed for visualization. The strain is computed from the simulation’s extrapolated waveform, which is shown at the bottom of the screen.

Credits: © N. Fischer, H. Pfeiffer, A. Buonanno (Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics), Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes project

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Numerische Simulation der Verschmelzung zweier Schwarzer Löcher mit sehr unterschiedlichen Massen und präzidierender Bahnebene (GW190412).

Numerische Simulation von zwei Schwarzen Löchern, die einander immer enger umkreisen, schließlich verschmelzen und dabei Gravitationswellen aussenden. Das größere Schwarze Loch ist 3,5-mal massereicher als das andere und dreht sich um sich selbst, wodurch die Bahnebene präzediert. Das simulierte Gravitationswellensignal stimmt mit der Beobachtung überein, die von den Gravitationswellendetektoren LIGO und Virgo am 12. April 2019 gemacht wurde (GW190412).

Details der Visualisierung:
* Der „scheinbare Horizont“ der Schwarzen Löcher ist in der Simulation schwarz dargestellt. Bei Timecode 1:09 bildet sich ein gemeinsamer scheinbarer Horizont; das bedeuetet, dass die beiden Schwarzen Löcher miteinander verschmolzen sind.
* Die Gravitationswellen werden in Farben um die Schwarzen Löcher herum dargestellt, dabei steht blau für schwache und rot für starke Gravitationswellen. Dargestellt ist der Realteil des numerisch berechneten Signals, wobei die invers-radiale Skalierung für die Visualisierung entfernt wurde. Die Stärke wird aus der extrapolierten Wellenform der Simulation berechnet, die unten auf dem Bildschirm angezeigt ist.

Credits: © N. Fischer, H. Pfeiffer, A. Buonanno (Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik), Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes project

[anothervanwinkle]

The time scale is incredible. That 1:30 min clip shows the final 30 milliseconds! before the merger. Absolutely breathtaking!

[RME]

Very nice visualization of the last 30 milliseconds or so of the two BHs before merging and the gravitational waves produced. Wow!

[ho]

these black hole combinations are, ,, interesting.. yeah --- thanks for putting this together for us.--

[MatthewBrown-yuhs]

playback x2 for ever so slightly closer to real-time observation

[JoopBananenbuiger]

Why does the angle of the orbit of the smaller black hole suddenly change so much during the last milisecond? It must take immense force to let something as massive as a black hole make a plane change like that in so little time.

[GilTMann-lyfd]

Great visuals for celebrating 4/20.
Party on Garth.

[mananself]

Can you simulate three black holes revolving?

[juansanchez]

Buenísima animación. Ayuda a entender las ondas gravitacionales generadas 👏

[franckmalers]

can gravitationnal waves aggregate such as ocean waves?

[tiagotiagot]

Do the different colors represent anything, or are they there just to make it easier to see the structure of the waves?

[ibnbattuta]

We know that GW190412 is about 700 Mpc away. Can we tell which galaxy or galactic cluster it's coming from?

[bramijzerman]

I have a question, I read that gravitational waves are usualy caused by fusing black holes of similar masses. Is this true and if so why? Is it maybe because of there closeby location in the universe and that therefore they have a similar history?

[AbhijeetManhas]

which software is used for such simulations?

[gooddaysan]

А как выглядят настоящие данные? Это визуализация красивая, но исходные данные какие, можно на них посмотреть?

[SynthoidSounds]

Nicely done! Meanwhile . . .
Black Holes, could be a great name for a band . . . OK, just an idea

[polar_fox]

"маленькая" дыра:
- может, не надо?
большая:
- ну ты же понимаешь, чем это закончится....