arXiv subjects

Jeandrew Brink

Publications and source records attributed to Jeandrew Brink.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Constraining Unmodeled Physics with Compact Binary Mergers from GWTC-1

We present a flexible model to describe the effects of generic deviations of observed gravitational wave signals from modeled waveforms in the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors. With the detection of 11 gravitational wave events from the GWTC-1 catalog, we are able to constrain possible deviations from our modeled waveforms. In this paper we present our coherent spline model that describes the deviations, then choose to validate our model on an example phenomenological and astrophysically motivated departure in waveforms based on extreme spontaneous scalarization. We find that the model is capable of recovering the simulated deviations. By performing model comparisons we observe that the spline model effectively describes the simulated departures better than a normal compact binary coalescence (CBC) model. We analyze the entire GWTC-1 catalog of events with our model and compare it to a normal CBC model, finding that there are no significant departures from the modeled template gravitational waveforms used.

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arXiv2015

The Astrophysics of Resonant Orbits in the Kerr Metric

This paper gives a complete characterization of resonant orbits in a Kerr spacetime. A resonant orbit is defined as a geodesic for which the longitudinal and radial orbital frequencies are commensurate. Our analysis is based on expressing the resonance condition in its most symmetric form using Carlson's integrals. We provide a number of concise formulae for the dependence of resonances on the system parameters. Resonant effects may be observable during the in-spiral of a compact object into a super-massive black hole. When the slowly evolving orbital frequencies pass through a series of low-order resonances, rapid changes in the orbital parameters could produce measurable phase shifts in the emitted gravitational radiation (GW). Resonant orbits may also capture dust leading to electromagnetic emission. The KAM theorem indicates that, low order resonant orbits demarcate the regions where the onset of chaos could occur around a perturbed black-hole. We find that the 1/2 and 2/3 resonances occur at ~4 and 5.4 Schwarzschild radii (Rs) from the event horizon. For compact object in-spirals around super-massive black holes, this region lies within the sensitivity band of space-based GW detectors. For Sgr A*, length scales of ~41 and 55 microarcseconds and timescales of 50 and 79 min respectively should be associated with resonant effects, if Sgr A* is non-spinning. Spin decreases these values by up to ~32% and ~28%. These length-scales are potentially resolvable with VLBI measurements. We find that all low-order resonances are localized to the strong field region r < 50 Rs. This fact guarantees the validity of using approximations based on averaging to model the frequency evolution of a test object in region 50 Rs <r <1000 Rs. The systematic determination of the multipole moments of the central object by observing the orbit of a pulsar, free of chaotic effects, is thus possible.

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arXiv2013

Avenues for Analytic exploration in Axisymmetric Spacetimes. Foundations and the Triad Formalism

Axially symmetric spacetimes are the only models for isolated systems with continuous symmetries that also include dynamics. For such systems, we review the reduction of the vacuum Einstein field equations to their most concise form by dimensionally reducing to the three-dimensional space of orbits of the Killing vector, followed by a conformal rescaling. The resulting field equations can be written as a problem in three-dimensional gravity with a complex scalar field as source. This scalar field, the Ernst potential is constructed from the norm and twist of the spacelike Killing field. In the case where the axial Killing vector is twist-free, we discuss the properties of the axis and simplify the field equations using a triad formalism. We study two physically motivated triad choices that further reduce the complexity of the equations and exhibit their hierarchical structure. The first choice is adapted to a harmonic coordinate that asymptotes to a cylindrical radius and leads to a simplification of the three-dimensional Ricci tensor and the boundary conditions on the axis. We illustrate its properties by explicitly solving the field equations in the case of static axisymmetric spacetimes. The other choice of triad is based on geodesic null coordinates adapted to null infinity as in the Bondi formalism. We then explore the solution space of the twist-free axisymmetric vacuum field equations, identifying the known (unphysical) solutions together with the assumptions made in each case. This singles out the necessary conditions for obtaining physical solutions to the equations.

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arXiv2013

Orbital resonances around Black holes

We compute the length and timescales associated with resonant orbits in the Kerr Metric for all orbital and spin parameters. Resonance induced effects are potentially observable when the Event Horizon telescope resolves the inner structure of Sgr A*, space-based gravitational wave detectors record phase-shifts in the waveform during the resonant passage of a neutron star as it spirals in to the black hole and in the frequencies of quasi periodic oscillations for accreting black holes. The onset of geodesic chaos for non-Kerr spacetimes should occur at the resonance locations quantified here.

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arXiv2012

A geometrically motivated coordinate system for exploring spacetime dynamics in numerical-relativity simulations using a quasi-Kinnersley tetrad

We investigate the suitability and properties of a quasi-Kinnersley tetrad and a geometrically motivated coordinate system as tools for quantifying both strong-field and wave-zone effects in numerical relativity (NR) simulations. We fix the radial and latitudinal coordinate degrees of freedom of the metric, using the Coulomb potential associated with the quasi-Kinnersley transverse frame. These coordinates are invariants of the spacetime and can be used to unambiguously fix the outstanding spin-boost freedom associated with the quasi-Kinnersley frame (resulting in a preferred quasi-Kinnersley tetrad (QKT)). In the limit of small perturbations about a Kerr spacetime, these coordinates and QKT reduce to Boyer-Lindquist coordinates and the Kinnersley tetrad, irrespective of the simulation gauge choice. We explore the properties of this construction both analytically and numerically, and we gain insights regarding the propagation of radiation described by a super-Poynting vector. We also quantify in detail the peeling properties of the chosen tetrad and gauge. We argue that these choices are particularly well suited for a rapidly converging wave-extraction algorithm as the extraction location approaches infinity, and we explore numerically the extent to which this property remains applicable on the interior of a computational domain. Using a number of additional tests, we verify that the prescription behaves as required in the appropriate limits regardless of simulation gauge. We explore the behavior of the geometrically motivated coordinate system in dynamical binary-black-hole NR mergers, and find them useful for visualizing features in NR simulations such as the spurious "junk" radiation. Finally, we carefully scrutinize the head-on collision of two black holes and, for example, the way in which the extracted waveform changes as it moves through the computational domain.

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arXiv2012

Visualizing Spacetime Curvature via Frame-Drag Vortexes and Tidal Tendexes I. General Theory and Weak-Gravity Applications

When one splits spacetime into space plus time, the Weyl curvature tensor (vacuum Riemann tensor) gets split into two spatial, symmetric, and trace-free (STF) tensors: (i) the Weyl tensor's so-called "electric" part or tidal field, and (ii) the Weyl tensor's so-called "magnetic" part or frame-drag field. Being STF, the tidal field and frame-drag field each have three orthogonal eigenvector fields which can be depicted by their integral curves. We call the integral curves of the tidal field's eigenvectors tendex lines, we call each tendex line's eigenvalue its tendicity, and we give the name tendex to a collection of tendex lines with large tendicity. The analogous quantities for the frame-drag field are vortex lines, their vorticities, and vortexes. We build up physical intuition into these concepts by applying them to a variety of weak-gravity phenomena: a spinning, gravitating point particle, two such particles side by side, a plane gravitational wave, a point particle with a dynamical current-quadrupole moment or dynamical mass-quadrupole moment, and a slow-motion binary system made of nonspinning point particles. [Abstract is abbreviated; full abstract also mentions additional results.]

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arXiv2011

Frame-Dragging Vortexes and Tidal Tendexes Attached to Colliding Black Holes: Visualizing the Curvature of Spacetime

When one splits spacetime into space plus time, the spacetime curvature (Weyl tensor) gets split into an "electric" part E_{jk} that describes tidal gravity and a "magnetic" part B_{jk} that describes differential dragging of inertial frames. We introduce tools for visualizing B_{jk} (frame-drag vortex lines, their vorticity, and vortexes) and E_{jk} (tidal tendex lines, their tendicity, and tendexes), and also visualizations of a black-hole horizon's (scalar) vorticity and tendicity. We use these tools to elucidate the nonlinear dynamics of curved spacetime in merging black-hole binaries.

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arXiv2009

Formal Solution of the Fourth Order Killing equations for Stationary Axisymmetric Vacuum Spacetimes

An analytic understanding of the geodesic structure around non-Kerr spacetimes will result in a powerful tool that could make the mapping of spacetime around massive quiescent compact objects possible. To this end, I present an analytic closed form expression for the components of a the fourth order Killing tensor for Stationary Axisymmetric Vacuum (SAV) Spacetimes. It is as yet unclear what subset of SAV spacetimes admit this solution. The solution is written in terms of an integral expression involving the metric functions and two specific Greens functions. A second integral expression has to vanish in order for the solution to be exact. In the event that the second integral does not vanish it is likely that the best fourth order approximation to the invariant has been found. This solution can be viewed as a generalized Carter constant providing an explicit expression for the fourth invariant, in addition to the energy, azimuthal angular momentum and rest mass, associated with geodesic motion in SAV spacetimes, be it exact or approximate. I further comment on the application of this result for the founding of a general algorithm for mapping the spacetime around compact objects using gravitational wave observatories.

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arXiv2009

Spacetime Encodings III - Second Order Killing Tensors

This paper explores the Petrov type D, stationary axisymmetric vacuum (SAV) spacetimes that were found by Carter to have separable Hamilton-Jacobi equations, and thus admit a second-order Killing tensor. The derivation of the spacetimes presented in this paper borrows from ideas about dynamical systems, and illustrates concepts that can be generalized to higher- order Killing tensors. The relationship between the components of the Killing equations and metric functions are given explicitly. The origin of the four separable coordinate systems found by Carter is explained and classified in terms of the analytic structure associated with the Killing equations. A geometric picture of what the orbital invariants may represent is built. Requiring that a SAV spacetime admits a second-order Killing tensor is very restrictive, selecting very few candidates from the group of all possible SAV spacetimes. This restriction arises due to the fact that the consistency conditions associated with the Killing equations require that the field variables obey a second-order differential equation, as opposed to a fourth-order differential equation that imposes the weaker condition that the spacetime be SAV. This paper introduces ideas that could lead to the explicit computation of more general orbital invariants in the form of higher-order Killing Tensors.

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arXiv2009

Spacetime Encodings IV - The Relationship between Weyl Curvature and Killing Tensors in Stationary Axisymmetric Vacuum Spacetimes

The problem of obtaining an explicit representation for the fourth invariant of geodesic motion (generalized Carter constant) of an arbitrary stationary axisymmetric vacuum spacetime generated from an Ernst Potential is considered. The coupling between the non-local curvature content of the spacetime as encoded in the Weyl tensor, and the existence of a Killing tensor is explored and a constructive, algebraic test for a fourth order Killing tensor suggested. The approach used exploits the variables defined for the Bäckland transformations to clarify the relationship between Weyl curvature, constants of geodesic motion, expressed as Killing tensors, and the solution generation techniques. A new symmetric non-covariant formulation of the Killing equations is given. This formulation transforms the problem of looking for fourth-order Killing tensors in 4D into one of looking for four interlocking two-manifolds admitting fourth-order Killing tensors in 2D.

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arXiv2008

Gravitational Radiation from Plunging Orbits - Perturbative Study -

Numerical relativity has recently yielded a plethora of results about kicks from spinning mergers which has, in turn, vastly increased our knowledge about the spin interactions of black hole systems. In this work we use black hole perturbation theory to calculate accurately the gravitational waves emanating from the end of the plunging stage of an extreme mass ratio merger in order to further understand this phenomenon. This study focuses primarily on spin induced effects with emphasis on the maximally spinning limit and the identification of possible causes of generic behavior. We find that gravitational waves emitted during the plunging phase exhibit damped oscillatory behavior, corresponding to a coherent excitation of quasi-normal modes by the test particle. This feature is universal in the sense that the frequencies and damping time do not depend on the orbital parameters of the plunging particle. Furthermore, the observed frequencies are distinct from those associated with the usual free quasi-normal ringing. Our calculation suggests that a maximum in radiated energy and momentum occurs at spin parameters equal to $a/M=0.86$ and $a/M=0.81$, respectively for the plunge stage of a polar orbit. The dependence of linear momentum emission on the angle at which a polar orbit impacts the horizon is quantified. One of the advantages of the perturbation approach adopted here is that insight into the actual mechanism of radiation emission and its relationship to black hole ringing is obtained by carefully identifying the dominant terms in the expansions used.

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arXiv2008

Spacetime Encodings I- A Spacetime Reconstruction Problem

This paper explores features of an idealized mathematical machine (algorithm) that would be capable of reconstructing the gravitational nature (the multipolar structure or spacetime metric) of a compact object, by observing gravitational radiation emitted by a small object that orbits and spirals into it. An outline is given of the mathematical developments that must be carried out in order to construct such a machine.

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arXiv2008

Spacetime Encodings II - Pictures of Integrability

I visually explore the features of geodesic orbits in arbitrary stationary axisymmetric vacuum (SAV) spacetimes that are constructed from a complex Ernst potential. Some of the geometric features of integrable and chaotic orbits are highlighted. The geodesic problem for these SAV spacetimes is rewritten as a two degree of freedom problem and the connection between current ideas in dynamical systems and the study of two manifolds sought. The relationship between the Hamilton-Jacobi equations, canonical transformations, constants of motion and Killing tensors are commented on. Wherever possible I illustrate the concepts by means of examples from general relativity. This investigation is designed to build the readers' intuition about how integrability arises, and to summarize some of the known facts about two degree of freedom systems. Evidence is given, in the form of orbit-crossing structure, that geodesics in SAV spacetimes might admit, a fourth constant of motion that is quartic in momentum (by contrast with Kerr spacetime, where Carter's fourth constant is quadratic).

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arXiv2008

Gravitational waves from intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals for ground-based detectors

We explore the prospects for Advanced LIGO to detect gravitational waves from neutron stars and stellar mass black holes spiraling into intermediate-mass ($M\sim 50 M_\odot$ to $350 M_\odot$) black holes. We estimate an event rate for such \emph{intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals} (IMRIs) of up to $\sim 10$--$30 \mathrm{yr}^{-1}$. Our numerical simulations show that if the central body is not a black hole but its metric is stationary, axisymmetric, reflection symmetric and asymptotically flat then the waves will likely be tri-periodic, as for a black hole. We report generalizations of a theorem due to Ryan (1995) which suggest that the evolutions of the waves' three fundamental frequencies and of the complex amplitudes of their spectral components encode (in principle) a full map of the central body's metric, full details of the energy and angular momentum exchange between the central body and the orbit, and the time-evolving orbital elements. We estimate that Advanced LIGO can measure or constrain deviations of the central body from a Kerr black hole with modest but interesting accuracy.

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arXiv2004

A Nonlinear Coupling Network to Simulate the Development of the r-mode Instablility in Neutron Stars II. Dynamics

Two mechanisms for nonlinear mode saturation of the r-mode in neutron stars have been suggested: the parametric instability mechanism involving a small number of modes and the formation of a nearly continuous Kolmogorov-type cascade. Using a network of oscillators constructed from the eigenmodes of a perfect fluid incompressible star, we investigate the transition between the two regimes numerically. Our network includes the 4995 inertial modes up to n<= 30 with 146,998 direct couplings to the r-mode and 1,306,999 couplings with detuning< 0.002 (out of a total of approximately 10^9 possible couplings). The lowest parametric instability thresholds for a range of temperatures are calculated and it is found that the r-mode becomes unstable to modes with 13<n<15. In the undriven, undamped, Hamiltonian version of the network the rate to achieve equipartition is found to be amplitude dependent, reminiscent of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam problem. More realistic models driven unstable by gravitational radiation and damped by shear viscosity are explored next. A range of damping rates, corresponding to temperatures 10^6K to 10^9K, is considered. Exponential growth of the r-mode is found to cease at small amplitudes, approximately 10^-4. For strongly damped, low temperature models, a few modes dominate the dynamics. The behavior of the r-mode is complicated, but its amplitude is still no larger than about 10^-4 on average. For high temperature, weakly damped models the r-mode feeds energy into a sea of oscillators that achieve approximate equipartition. In this case the r-mode amplitude settles to a value for which the rate to achieve equipartition is approximately the linear instability growth rate.

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arXiv2004

A Nonlinear Coupling Network to Simulate the Development of the r-mode Instablility in Neutron Stars I. Construction

R-modes of a rotating neutron star are unstable because of the emission of gravitational radiation. We explore the saturation amplitudes of these modes determined by nonlinear mode-mode coupling. Modelling the star as incompressible allows the analytic computation of the coupling coefficients. All couplings up to n=30 are obtained, and analytic values for the shear damping and mode normalization are presented. In a subsequent paper we perform numerical simulations of a large set of coupled modes.

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arXiv2004

Nonlinear Couplings of R-modes: Energy Transfer and Saturation Amplitudes at Realistic Timescales

Non-linear interactions among the inertial modes of a rotating fluid can be described by a network of coupled oscillators. We use such a description for an incompressible fluid to study the development of the r-mode instability of rotating neutron stars. A previous hydrodynamical simulation of the r-mode reported the catastrophic decay of large amplitude r-modes. We explain the dynamics and timescale of this decay analytically by means of a single three mode coupling. We argue that at realistic driving and damping rates such large amplitudes will never actually be reached. By numerically integrating a network of nearly 5000 coupled modes, we find that the linear growth of the r-mode ceases before it reaches an amplitude of around 10^(-4). The lowest parametric instability thresholds for the r-mode are calculated and it is found that the r-mode becomes unstable to modes with 13<n<15 if modes up to n=30 are included. Using the network of coupled oscillators, integration times of 10^6 rotational periods are attainable for realistic values of driving and damping rates. Complicated dynamics of the modal amplitudes are observed. The initial development is governed by the three mode coupling with the lowest parametric instability. Subsequently a large number of modes are excited, which greatly decreases the linear growth rate of the r-mode.

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