arXiv subjects

Alex Vañó-Viñuales

Publications and source records attributed to Alex Vañó-Viñuales.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A numerical approach to particle creation in accelerating toy models

The formation of black holes by the gravitational collapse of stars is known to spontaneously excite particle pairs out of the quantum vacuum. For the canonical vacuum state at past null infinity, the expected number of particles received at future null infinity can be obtained in full closed form at sufficiently late times. However, for intermediate times, or for more complicated astrophysical processes (e.g. binary black hole mergers), the problem is technically challenging and has not yet been resolved. We develop here a numerical approach to study scattering problems of massless quantum fields in asymptotically flat spacetimes, based on the hyperboloidal slice method used in numerical relativity and perturbation theory. This promising approach can reach both past and future null infinities, and therefore it has the potential to address the Hawking scattering problem more rigorously than evolution on the usual Cauchy slices. We test this approach with some dynamical toy models in Minkowski using effective potentials that mimic the effects of gravity, and compute the spectrum of particles received at future null infinity. We finally discuss future prospects for applying this framework in more relevant gravitational scenarios.

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arXiv2026

Decay of solutions of the wave equation in cosmological spacetimes -- a numerical analysis

We numerically evolve spherically symmetric solutions to the linear wave equation on some expanding Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetimes and study the respective asymptotics for large times. We find a quantitative relation between the expansion rate of the underlying background universe and the decay rate of linear waves, also in the context of spatially-hyperbolic spacetimes, for which rigorous proofs of decay rates are not generally known. A prominent role in the decay mechanism is shown to be played by tails, i.e. scattered waves propagating in the interior of the lightcone.

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arXiv2026

Charged Scalar Field at Future Null Infinity via Nonlinear Hyperboloidal Evolution

Quasinormal modes and power-law late-time decay tails of a charged scalar field on a charged black hole have been considered in the literature, and here we use the hyperboloidal formalism to present an independent comparison to prior non-linear results. For the quasinormal modes we show a fit of the spherical fundamental mode for the purely uncharged case and compare it to the charged one. We obtain good agreement with prior prescriptions for the oscillation frequency between real and imaginary parts of the scalar field, as well as for the exponent of the power-law decay. Full non-linear evolutions of hyperboloidal slices in spherical symmetry were used to obtain our results, allowing for the extraction of signals at future null infinity.

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arXiv2025

Hyperboloidal neutron star and black hole initial data in spherical symmetry

The focus of this work is on the construction of initial data including a neutron star on a hyperboloidal slice. As simplest scenario for this first step, spherical symmetry is considered together with a polytropic-like equation of state for the neutron star. Constraint-satisfying hyperboloidal initial data are obtained for a single neutron star and for a combination of neutron star with a black hole in its center. To the author's best knowledge this is the first time that full hyperboloidal slices of a neutron star spacetime are constructed. The obtained initial data are suitable for evolutions of the Einstein and relativistic hydrodynamic equations on hyperboloidal slices.

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arXiv2025

Topical Collection-Hyperboloidal Foliations in the Era of Gravitational-Wave Astronomy: From Mathematical Relativity to Astrophysics

Editorial introducing the GRG Topical Collection "Hyperboloidal foliations in the era of gravitational-wave astronomy," on hyperboloidal slices. The collection includes contributions spanning black-hole perturbations, asymptotic geometry, initial-data, and high-accuracy numerical methods relevant to gravitational-wave modeling. The collection grew out of the 2023 "Infinity on a Gridshell" workshop in Copenhagen.

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arXiv2025

Hyperboloidal approach for linear and non-linear wave equations in FLRW spacetimes

In this numerical work, we deal with two distinct problems concerning the propagation of waves in cosmological backgrounds. In both cases, we employ a spacetime foliation given in terms of compactified hyperboloidal slices. These slices intersect future null infinity, so our method is well-suited to study the long-time behaviour of waves. Moreover, our construction is adapted to the presence of the time--dependent scale factor that describes the underlying spacetime expansion. First, we investigate decay rates for solutions to the linear wave equation in a large class of expanding FLRW spacetimes, whose non--compact spatial sections have either zero or negative curvature. By means of a hyperboloidal foliation, we provide new numerical evidence for the sharpness of decay--in--time estimates for linear waves propagating in such spacetimes. Then, in the spatially-flat case, we present numerical results in support of small data global existence of solutions to semi-linear wave equations in FLRW spacetimes having a decelerated expansion, provided that a generalized null condition holds. In absence of this null condition and in the specific case of $ \square_g ϕ= (\partial_t ϕ)^2 $ (Fritz John's choice), the results we obtain suggest that, when the spacetime expansion is sufficiently slow, solutions diverge in finite time for every choice of initial data.

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arXiv2025

Numerical evolutions of the linearised conformal Einstein field equations in the inversion-Minkowski spacetime

Numerical evolutions of a system of equations close to null infinity in the geometric background of the inversion-Minkowski spacetime are performed. The evolved equations correspond to the linearisation of a second order metric formulation of the conformal Einstein field equations (CEFEs). These linear equations were first presented in [1] and the main purpose of this paper is to illustrate, through numerical evolutions, the scri-fixing technique via gauge source functions introduced [1] for the linearised CEFEs. A comparison of evolutions using scri-fixing gauge sources and trivial gauge source function in spherical and axial symmetry is presented.

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arXiv2024

Height-function-based 4D reference metrics for hyperboloidal evolution

Hyperboloidal slices are spacelike slices that reach future null infinity. Their asymptotic behaviour is different from Cauchy slices, which are traditionally used in numerical relativity simulations. This work uses free evolution of the formally-singular conformally compactified Einstein equations in spherical symmetry. One way to construct gauge conditions suitable for this approach relies on building the gauge source functions from a time-independent background spacetime metric. This background reference metric is set using the height function approach to provide the correct asymptotics of hyperboloidal slices of Minkowski spacetime. The present objective is to study the effect of different choices of height function on hyperboloidal evolutions via the reference metrics used in the gauge conditions. A total of 10 reference metrics for Minkowski are explored, identifying some of their desired features. They include 3 hyperboloidal layer constructions, evolved with the non-linear Einstein equations for the first time. Focus is put on long-term numerical stability of the evolutions, including small initial gauge perturbations. The results will be relevant for future (puncture-type) hyperboloidal evolutions, 3D simulations and the development of coinciding Cauchy and hyperboloidal data, among other applications.

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arXiv2024

Spherical Evolution of the Generalized Harmonic Gauge Formulation of General Relativity on Compactified Hyperboloidal Slices

We report on the successful numerical evolution of the compactified hyperboloidal initial value problem in general relativity using generalized harmonic gauge. We work in spherical symmetry, using a massless scalar field to drive dynamics. Our treatment is based on the dual-foliation approach, proceeding either by using a height function or by solving the eikonal equation to map between frames. Both are tested here with a naive implementation and with hyperboloidal layers. We present a broad suite of numerical evolutions, including pure gauge perturbations, constraint violating and satisfying data with and without scalar field matter. We present calculations of spacetimes with a regular center. For black hole spacetimes we use excision to remove part of the black hole interior. We demonstrate both pointwise and norm convergence at the expected rate of our discretization. We present evolutions in which the scalar field collapses to form a black hole. Evolving nonlinear scalar field perturbations of the Schwarzschild spacetime, we recover the expected quasinormal frequencies and tail decay rates from linear theory.

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arXiv2024

Conformal diagrams for stationary and dynamical strong-field hyperboloidal slices

Conformal Carter-Penrose diagrams are used for the visualization of hyperboloidal slices, which are smooth spacelike slices reaching null infinity. The focus is on the Schwarzschild black hole geometry in spherical symmetry, whose Penrose diagrams are introduced in a pedagogical way. The stationary regime involves time-independent slices. In this case, different options are given for integrating the height function -- the main ingredient for constructing hyperboloidal foliations. The dynamical regime considers slices changing in time, which are evolved together with the spacetime using the eikonal equation. It includes the relaxation of hyperboloidal Schwarzschild trumpet slices and the collapse of a massless scalar field into a black hole, for which Penrose diagrams are presented.

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arXiv2023

Spherically symmetric black hole spacetimes on hyperboloidal slices

Gravitational radiation and some global properties of spacetimes can only be unambiguously measured at future null infinity . This motivates the interest in reaching it within simulations of coalescing compact objects, whose waveforms are extracted for gravitational wave modelling purposes. One promising method to include future null infinity in the numerical domain is the evolution on hyperboloidal slices: smooth spacelike slices that reach future null infinity. The main challenge in this approach is the treatment of the compactified asymptotic region at future null infinity. Evolution on a hyperboloidal slice of a spacetime including a black hole entails an extra layer of difficulty, in part due to the finite coordinate distance between the black hole and future null infinity. Spherical symmetry is considered here as simplest setup still encompassing the full complication of the treatment along the radial coordinate. First, the construction of constant-mean-curvature hyperboloidal trumpet slices for Schwarzschild and Reissner-Nordström black hole spacetimes is reviewed from the point of view of the puncture approach. Then, the framework is set for solving hyperboloidal-adapted hyperbolic gauge conditions for stationary trumpet initial data, providing solutions for two specific sets of parameters. Finally, results of testing these initial data in evolution are presented.

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arXiv2023

3D Evolution of a Good-Bad-Ugly-F Model on Compactified Hyperboloidal Slices

The Good-Bad-Ugly-F model is a system of semi-linear wave equations that mimics the asymptotic form of the Einstein field equations in generalized harmonic gauge with specific constraint damping and suitable gauge source functions. These constraint additions and gauge source functions eliminate logarithmic divergences appearing at the leading order in the asymptotic expansion of the metric components. In this work, as a step towards using compactified hyperboloidal slices in numerical relativity, we evolve this model numerically in spherical symmetry, axisymmetry and full 3d on such hyperboloidal slices. Promising numerical results are found in all cases. Our results show that nonlinear systems of wave equations with the asymptotics of the Einstein field equations in the above form can be reliably captured within hyperboloidal numerical evolution without assuming symmetry.

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arXiv2022

Dynamical descalarization with a jump during black hole merger

Black holes in scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity are prone to scalarization, that is a spontaneous development of scalar hair for strong enough spacetime curvature while the weak field regime of the theory coincides with general relativity. Since large spacetime curvature is associated with smaller black hole masses, the merging of black holes can lead to dynamical descalarization. This is a spontaneous release of the scalar hair of the newly formed black hole in case its mass is above the scalarization threshold. Depending on the exact form of the Gauss-Bonnet coupling function, the stable scalarized solutions can be either continuously connected to the Schwarzschild black hole, or the transitions between the two can happen with a jump. By performing simulations of black hole head-on collisions in scalar-Gauss-Bonnet gravity prone to dynamical descalization, we have demonstrated that such a jump can be clearly observed in the accumulated gravitational wave data of multiple merger events with different masses. The distinct signature in the gravitational wave signal will share similarities with the effects expected from first order matter phase transitions happening during neutron star binary mergers.

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arXiv2021

Summation by Parts and Truncation Error Matching on Hyperboloidal Slices

We examine stability of summation by parts (SBP) numerical schemes that use hyperboloidal slices to include future null infinity in the computational domain. This inclusion serves to mitigate outer boundary effects and, in the future, will help reduce systematic errors in gravitational waveform extraction. We also study a setup with truncation error matching. Our SBP-Stable scheme guarantees energy-balance for a class of linear wave equations at the semidiscrete level. We develop also specialized dissipation operators. The whole construction is made at second order accuracy in spherical symmetry, but could be straightforwardly generalized to higher order or spectral accuracy without symmetry. In a practical implementation we evolve first a scalar field obeying the linear wave equation and observe, as expected, long term stability and norm convergence. We obtain similar results with a potential term. To examine the limitations of the approach we consider a massive field, whose equations of motion do not regularize, and whose dynamics near null infinity, which involve excited incoming pulses that can not be resolved by the code, is very different to that in the massless setting. We still observe excellent energy conservation, but convergence is not satisfactory. Overall our results suggest that compactified hyperboloidal slices are likely to be provably effective whenever the asymptotic solution space is close to that of the wave equation.

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arXiv2019

The Hyperboloidal Numerical Evolution of a Good-Bad-Ugly Wave Equation

One method for the numerical treatment of future null-infinity is to decouple coordinates from the tensor basis and choose each in a careful manner. This dual-frame approach is hampered by logarithmically divergent terms that appear in a naive choice of evolved variables. Here we consider a system of wave equations that satisfy the weak-null condition and serve as a model system with similar nonlinearities to those present in the Einstein field equations in generalized harmonic gauge. We show that these equations can be explicitly regularized by a nonlinear change of variables. Working in spherical symmetry, a numerical implementation of this model using compactified hyperboloidal slices is then presented. Clean convergence is found for the regularized system. Although more complicated, it is expected that general relativity can be treated similarly.

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arXiv2018

Spherical symmetry as a test case for unconstrained hyperboloidal evolution II: gauge conditions

We present numerical solutions of the hyperboloidal initial value problem for a self-gravitating scalar field in spherical symmetry, using a variety of standard hyperbolic slicing and shift conditions that we adapt to our hyperboloidal setup. We work in the framework of conformal compactification, and study both evolutions that employ the preferred conformal gauge, which simplifies the formal singularities of our equations at null infinity, and evolutions without this simplification. In previous work we have used a staggered grid, which excludes null infinity, while now we include the option of placing a gridpoint directly at null infinity. We use both the generalized BSSN and conformal Z4 formulations of the Einstein equations, study the effect of different gauge conditions, and show that robust evolutions are possible for a range of choices.

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arXiv2016

Free hyperboloidal evolution in spherical symmetry

We address the hyperboloidal initial value problem in the context of Numerical Relativity, motivated by its evolution on hyperboloidal slices: smooth spacelike slices that reach future null infinity, the "location" in spacetime where radiation is to be extracted. Our approach uses the BSSN and Z4 formulations and a time-independent conformal factor. The resulting system of PDEs includes formally diverging terms at null infinity. Here we discuss a regularized numerical scheme in spherical symmetry. A critical ingredient are the gauge conditions, which control the treatment of future null infinity. Stable numerical evolutions have been performed with regular and black hole initial data on a hyperboloidal slice. A sufficiently large scalar field perturbation will create a black hole, whose final stationary state is different from the trumpet initial data derived here.

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arXiv2015

Free evolution of the hyperboloidal initial value problem in spherical symmetry

The hyperboloidal initial value problem is addressed in the context of Numerical Relativity, motivated by its use of hyperboloidal slices - smooth spacelike slices that reach future null infinity, the "place" in spacetime where radiation is to be extracted. This is beneficial for studying the global properties of isolated systems and unambiguously extracting their gravitational radiation. The present approach implements the Einstein equations as a free evolution, using the BSSN and Z4 formulations (standard in current codes) expressed in terms of a conformally rescaled metric as suggested by Penrose, and with a time-independent conformal factor. The main difficulty is that the resulting system of PDEs includes formally divergent terms at null infinity that require a special treatment. The numerical simulations in this thesis are restricted to spherical symmetry, although the regularization in the radial direction is expected to also apply to the full 3D case up to some extent. A critical ingredient are the gauge conditions, which rely on well-chosen source functions and damping terms and control the treatment of future null infinity by means of the scri-fixing condition. Once the numerical implementation was stabilized, stable numerical evolutions of a massless scalar field coupled to the Einstein equations could be performed with regular and black hole trumpet initial data on a hyperboloidal slice. The signal of the scalar field has been successfully extracted at future null infinity. Small perturbations of regular initial data give stationary data that are stable forever, while larger scalar field perturbations result in the formation of a black hole. Schwarzschild trumpet initial data have been found to slowly drift away from the expected stationary values, but for small perturbations the effect is slow enough to allow the observation of the power-law decay tails of the scalar field.

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