University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

3D Visualization of Binary Black Hole Merger

Kotak, Mit

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Kotak_Mit.tiff

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/114215

Description

Title
3D Visualization of Binary Black Hole Merger
Author(s)
Kotak, Mit
Contributor(s)
Shapiro, Stuart Louis
Issue Date
2022
Keyword(s)
Physics
Date of Ingest
2022-06-01T16:50:54Z
Abstract
What happens when two black holes merge? Spectacular new images show the magnetic swirl action like never before. By simulating this merger on a supercomputer, we can understand astronomical observations made by NASA and ESA telescopes. Our research focuses on developing mathematical models to couple Einstein’s equations, which describe the gravitational field around a black hole, with equations that govern the motion of matter moving close to the speed of light in a magnetic field. The image grid was created by solving these equations on a supercomputer over a span of 6 months. The t/M metric tracks simulation time and the scale bar at the bottom helps calculate black hole mass. The jets coming out of the black holes can be detected by electromagnetic emission detectors whereas the colorbar contains information about light intensity fluctuations that can be detected by large telescopes such as Pan-STARRS in Hawaii. Images like these not only help researchers analyze the behavior of spacetime around black holes, but they also offer a lesson in humility; black holes remind us that no matter what we do, there will always be things out there in the cosmos that continue to elude our wildest imaginations.
Type of Resource
  • Text
  • Image
Language
eng
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/114215
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2022 Mit Kotak

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