Building black holes, gravitational waves, and relativistic fluid flows: Supercomputer cinema

Stuart Louis Shapiro, Saul A. Teukolsky

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The authors have constructed a new computer code to solve Einstein's equations of general relativity for the dynamical evolution of a relativistic star cluster. The cluster may contain a large number of stars that move in a strong gravitational field at velocities approaching the speed of light. Unstable star clusters undergo catastrophic collapse to black holes. The collapse of an unstable cluster to a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy may explain the origin of quasars and active galactic nuclei. By means of a supercomputer simulation and color graphics, the whole process can be viewed in real time on a movie screen. The authors have also written a multidimensional, relativistic hydrodynamics code to determine the flow of gas onto such black holes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProc Supercomput 90
PublisherPubl by IEEE
Pages805-814
Number of pages10
ISBN (Print)0818620560
StatePublished - 1990
Externally publishedYes
EventProceedings of Supercomputing '90 -
Duration: Nov 12 1990Nov 16 1990

Other

OtherProceedings of Supercomputing '90
Period11/12/9011/16/90

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Engineering(all)

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