arXiv subjects

Peter Diener

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Diener.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Binary neutron star mergers with tabulated equations of state in SPHINCS_BSSN

The dynamics and observable signatures of neutron star mergers are governed by physics under the most extreme conditions. They are particularly impacted by the high-density equation of state, which for the most sophisticated models is usually available in the form of tables. Numerical relativity codes usually evolve particularly well-behaved numerical ("conservative") variables, but at the price that the physically interesting ("primitive") variables need to be found at every computational element and at every integration sub-step by means of expensive (and not always successful) root-finding algorithms. We have recently developed the Lagrangian numerical relativity code SPHINCS_BSSN which evolves the spacetime on an adaptive mesh with well tested methods, but the fluid is evolved by means of freely moving particles. Since our evolution equations differ from those of conventional numerical relativity, we need to develop new conservative-to-primitive algorithms if we want to use tabulated equations of state. We present here three such algorithms: a 3D and a 2D Newton-Raphson method and a 1D root-finding algorithm based on Ridders' method. We find the 3D method to be very fast and robust with an average failure fraction in a full-blown neutron star merger simulation (with the DD2 equation of state) well below 1%. While we do not find obvious advantages for the 2D method, the 1D Ridders' method is slow, but essentially fail-safe. Therefore, we choose the 3D Newton-Raphson as default and fall back to the 1D Ridders' method as a safe "parachute".

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2026

Binary neutron star mergers with SPHINCS_BSSN: temperature-dependent equations of state and damping of constraint violations

Neutron star mergers hold the key to several grand challenges of contemporary (astro-)physics. In view of the upcoming next generation of ground-based detectors, it is crucial to keep improving theoretical predictions to harvest the full scientific returns from these investments. We introduce here a substantial update of our Lagrangian numerical relativity code SPHINCS_BSSN. Apart from changing our unit system, we add constraint damping terms to the BSSN spacetime evolution equations. We demonstrate that this measure reduces, without noteworthy computational cost, the Hamiltonian constraint violations by more than an order of magnitude. We further implement contributions to thermal energy and pressure that are based on Fermi liquid theory and contain a parametrization of the Dirac effective mass. These terms can be combined with any cold equation of state, and they enhance the physical realism of our simulations and introduce a physics-based concept of a temperature. In a set of merger simulations, we demonstrate good agreement with other temperature-dependent numerical relativity simulations. We find that different parametrizations of the Dirac effective mass can translate into shifts of $\sim 150$ Hz in the dominant post-merger gravitational wave peak frequency.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

The Lagrangian Numerical Relativity code SPHINCS_BSSN_v1.0

We present version 1.0 of our Lagrangian Numerical Relativity code SPHINCS_BSSN. This code evolves the full set of Einstein equations, but contrary to other Numerical Relativity codes, it evolves the matter fluid via Lagrangian particles in the framework of a high-accuracy version of Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). The major new elements introduced here are: i) a new method to map the stress--energy tensor (known at the particles) to the spacetime mesh, based on a local regression estimate; ii) additional measures that ensure the robust evolution of a neutron star through its collapse to a black hole; and iii) further refinements in how we place the SPH particles for our initial data. The latter are implemented in our code SPHINCS_ID which now, in addition to LORENE, can also couple to initial data produced by the initial data library FUKA. We discuss several simulations of neutron star mergers performed with SPHINCS_BSSN_v1.0, including irrotational cases with and without prompt collapse and a system where only one of the stars has a large spin ($\chi = 0.5)$.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Accelerated motion and the self-force in Schwarzschild spacetime

We provide expansions of the Detweiler-Whiting singular field for motion along arbitrary, planar accelerated trajectories in Schwarzschild spacetime. We transcribe these results into mode-sum regularization parameters, computing previously unknown terms that increase the convergence rate of the mode-sum. We test our results by computing the self-force along a variety of accelerated trajectories. For non-uniformly accelerated circular orbits we present results from a new 1+1D discontinuous Galerkin time-domain code which employs an effective-source. We also present results for uniformly accelerated circular orbits and accelerated bound eccentric orbits computed within a frequency-domain treatment. Our regularization results will be useful for computing self-consistent self-force inspirals where the particle's worldline is accelerated with respect to the background spacetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

SpECTRE: A Task-based Discontinuous Galerkin Code for Relativistic Astrophysics

We introduce a new relativistic astrophysics code, SpECTRE, that combines a discontinuous Galerkin method with a task-based parallelism model. SpECTRE's goal is to achieve more accurate solutions for challenging relativistic astrophysics problems such as core-collapse supernovae and binary neutron star mergers. The robustness of the discontinuous Galerkin method allows for the use of high-resolution shock capturing methods in regions where (relativistic) shocks are found, while exploiting high-order accuracy in smooth regions. A task-based parallelism model allows efficient use of the largest supercomputers for problems with a heterogeneous workload over disparate spatial and temporal scales. We argue that the locality and algorithmic structure of discontinuous Galerkin methods will exhibit good scalability within a task-based parallelism framework. We demonstrate the code on a wide variety of challenging benchmark problems in (non)-relativistic (magneto)-hydrodynamics. We demonstrate the code's scalability including its strong scaling on the NCSA Blue Waters supercomputer up to the machine's full capacity of 22,380 nodes using 671,400 threads.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

General Relativistic Three-Dimensional Multi-Group Neutrino Radiation-Hydrodynamics Simulations of Core-Collapse Supernovae

We report on a set of long-term general-relativistic three-dimensional (3D) multi-group (energy-dependent) neutrino-radiation hydrodynamics simulations of core-collapse supernovae. We employ a full 3D two-moment scheme with the local M1 closure, three neutrino species, and 12 energy groups per species. With this, we follow the post-core-bounce evolution of the core of a nonrotating $27$-$M_\odot$ progenitor in full unconstrained 3D and in octant symmetry for $\gtrsim$$ 380\,\mathrm{ms}$. We find the development of an asymmetric runaway explosion in our unconstrained simulation. We test the resolution dependence of our results and, in agreement with previous work, find that low resolution artificially aids explosion and leads to an earlier runaway expansion of the shock. At low resolution, the octant and full 3D dynamics are qualitatively very similar, but at high resolution, only the full 3D simulation exhibits the onset of explosion.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Numerical simulations of loop quantum Bianchi-I spacetimes

Due to the numerical complexities of studying evolution in an anisotropic quantum spacetime, in comparison to the isotropic models, the physics of loop quantized anisotropic models has remained largely unexplored. In particular, robustness of bounce and the validity of effective dynamics have so far not been established. Our analysis fills these gaps for the case of vacuum Bianchi-I spacetime. To efficiently solve the quantum Hamiltonian constraint we perform an implementation of the Cactus framework which is conventionally used for applications in numerical relativity. Using high performance computing, numerical simulations for a large number of initial states with a wide variety of fluctuations are performed. Big bang singularity is found to be replaced by anisotropic bounces for all the cases. We find that for initial states which are sharply peaked at the late times in the classical regime and bounce at a mean volume much greater than the Planck volume, effective dynamics is an excellent approximation to the underlying quantum dynamics. Departures of the effective dynamics from the quantum evolution appear for the states probing deep Planck volumes. A detailed analysis of the behavior of this departure reveals a non-monotonic and subtle dependence on fluctuations of the initial states. We find that effective dynamics in almost all of the cases underestimates the volume and hence overestimates the curvature at the bounce, a result in synergy with earlier findings in isotropic case. The expansion and shear scalars are found to be bounded throughout the evolution.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Numerical evolution of squeezed and non-Gaussian states in loop quantum cosmology

In recent years, numerical simulations with Gaussian initial states have demonstrated the existence of a quantum bounce in loop quantum cosmology in various models. A key issue pertaining to the robustness of the bounce and the associated physics is to understand the quantum evolution for more general initial states which may depart significantly from Gaussianity and may have no well defined peakedness properties. The analysis of such states, including squeezed and highly non-Gaussian states, has been computationally challenging until now. In this manuscript, we overcome these challenges by using the Chimera scheme for the spatially flat, homogeneous and isotropic model sourced with a massless scalar field. We demonstrate that the quantum bounce in this model occurs even for states which are highly squeezed or are non-Gaussian with multiple peaks and with little resemblance to semi-classical states. The existence of the bounce is found to be robust, being independent of the properties of the states. The evolution of squeezed and non-Gaussian states turns out to be qualitatively similar to that of Gaussian states, and satisfies strong constraints on the growth of the relative fluctuations across the bounce. We also compare the results from the effective dynamics and find that, although it captures the qualitative aspects of the evolution for squeezed and highly non-Gaussian states, it always underestimates the bounce volume. We show that various properties of the evolution, such as the energy density at the bounce, are in excellent agreement with the predictions from an exactly solvable loop quantum cosmological model for arbitrary states.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Numerical simulations of a loop quantum cosmos: robustness of the quantum bounce and the validity of effective dynamics

A key result of isotropic loop quantum cosmology is the existence of a quantum bounce which occurs when the energy density of the matter field approaches a universal maximum close to the Planck density. Though the bounce has been exhibited in various matter models, due to severe computational challenges some important questions have so far remained unaddressed. These include the demonstration of the bounce for widely spread states, its detailed properties for the states when matter field probes regions close to the Planck volume and the reliability of the continuum effective spacetime description in general. In this manuscript we rigorously answer these questions using the Chimera numerical scheme for the isotropic spatially flat model sourced with a massless scalar field. We show that as expected from an exactly solvable model, the quantum bounce is a generic feature of states even with a very wide spread, and for those which bounce much closer to the Planck volume. We perform a detailed analysis of the departures from the effective description and find some expected, and some surprising results. At a coarse level of description, the effective dynamics can be regarded as a good approximation to the underlying quantum dynamics unless the states correspond to small scalar field momenta, in which case they bounce closer to the Planck volume, or are very widely spread. Quantifying the amount of discrepancy between the quantum and the effective dynamics, we find that the departure between them depends in a subtle and non-monotonic way on the field momentum and different fluctuations. Interestingly, the departures are generically found to be such that the effective dynamics overestimates the spacetime curvature, and underestimates the volume at the bounce.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Chimera: A hybrid approach to numerical loop quantum cosmology

The existence of a quantum bounce in isotropic spacetimes is a key result in loop quantum cosmology (LQC), which has been demonstrated to arise in all the models studied so far. In most of the models, the bounce has been studied using numerical simulations involving states which are sharply peaked and which bounce at volumes much larger than the Planck volume. An important issue is to confirm the existence of the bounce for states which have a wide spread, or which bounce closer to the Planck volume. Numerical simulations with such states demand large computational domains, making them very expensive and practically infeasible with the techniques which have been implemented so far. To overcome these difficulties, we present an efficient hybrid numerical scheme using the property that at the small spacetime curvature, the quantum Hamiltonian constraint in LQC, which is a difference equation with uniform discretization in volume, can be approximated by a Wheeler-DeWitt differential equation. By carefully choosing a hybrid spatial grid allowing the use of partial differential equations at large volumes, and with a simple change of geometrical coordinate, we obtain a surprising reduction in the computational cost. This scheme enables us to explore regimes which were so far unachievable for the isotropic model in LQC. Our approach also promises to significantly reduce the computational cost for numerical simulations in anisotropic LQC using high performance computing.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Scalar self-force for eccentric orbits around a Schwarzschild black hole

We revisit the problem of computing the self-force on a scalar charge moving along an eccentric geodesic orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole. This work extends previous scalar self-force calculations for circular orbits, which were based on a regular "effective" point-particle source and a full 3D evolution code. We find good agreement between our results and previous calculations based on a (1+1) time-domain code. Finally, our data visualization is unconventional: we plot the self-force through full radial cycles to create "self-force loops", which reveal many interesting features that are less apparent in standard presentations of eccentric-orbit self-force data.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Generic effective source for scalar self-force calculations

A leading approach to the modelling of extreme mass ratio inspirals involves the treatment of the smaller mass as a point particle and the computation of a regularized self-force acting on that particle. In turn, this computation requires knowledge of the regularized retarded field generated by the particle. A direct calculation of this regularized field may be achieved by replacing the point particle with an effective source and solving directly a wave equation for the regularized field. This has the advantage that all quantities are finite and require no further regularization. In this work, we present a method for computing an effective source which is finite and continuous everywhere, and which is valid for a scalar point particle in arbitrary geodesic motion in an arbitrary background spacetime. We explain in detail various technical and practical considerations that underlie its use in several numerical self-force calculations. We consider as examples the cases of a particle in a circular orbit about Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes, and also the case of a particle following a generic time-like geodesic about a highly spinning Kerr black hole. We provide numerical C code for computing an effective source for various orbital configurations about Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Self-consistent orbital evolution of a particle around a Schwarzschild black hole

The motion of a charged particle is influenced by the self-force arising from the particle's interaction with its own field. In a curved spacetime, this self-force depends on the entire past history of the particle and is difficult to evaluate. As a result, all existing self-force evaluations in curved spacetime are for particles moving along a fixed trajectory. Here, for the first time, we overcome this long-standing limitation and present fully self-consistent orbits and waveforms of a scalar charged particle around a Schwarzschild black hole.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Numerical simulations with a first order BSSN formulation of Einstein's field equations

We present a new fully first order strongly hyperbolic representation of the BSSN formulation of Einstein's equations with optional constraint damping terms. We describe the characteristic fields of the system, discuss its hyperbolicity properties, and present two numerical implementations and simulations: one using finite differences, adaptive mesh refinement and in particular binary black holes, and another one using the discontinuous Galerkin method in spherical symmetry. The results of this paper constitute a first step in an effort to combine the robustness of BSSN evolutions with very high accuracy numerical techniques, such as spectral collocation multi-domain or discontinuous Galerkin methods.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

A Massive Data Parallel Computational Framework for Petascale/Exascale Hybrid Computer Systems

Heterogeneous systems are becoming more common on High Performance Computing (HPC) systems. Even using tools like CUDA and OpenCL it is a non-trivial task to obtain optimal performance on the GPU. Approaches to simplifying this task include Merge (a library based framework for heterogeneous multi-core systems), Zippy (a framework for parallel execution of codes on multiple GPUs), BSGP (a new programming language for general purpose computation on the GPU) and CUDA-lite (an enhancement to CUDA that transforms code based on annotations). In addition, efforts are underway to improve compiler tools for automatic parallelization and optimization of affine loop nests for GPUs and for automatic translation of OpenMP parallelized codes to CUDA. In this paper we present an alternative approach: a new computational framework for the development of massively data parallel scientific codes applications suitable for use on such petascale/exascale hybrid systems built upon the highly scalable Cactus framework. As the first non-trivial demonstration of its usefulness, we successfully developed a new 3D CFD code that achieves improved performance.

cs.DC↗

arXiv2011

The Einstein Toolkit: A Community Computational Infrastructure for Relativistic Astrophysics

We describe the Einstein Toolkit, a community-driven, freely accessible computational infrastructure intended for use in numerical relativity, relativistic astrophysics, and other applications. The Toolkit, developed by a collaboration involving researchers from multiple institutions around the world, combines a core set of components needed to simulate astrophysical objects such as black holes, compact objects, and collapsing stars, as well as a full suite of analysis tools. The Einstein Toolkit is currently based on the Cactus Framework for high-performance computing and the Carpet adaptive mesh refinement driver. It implements spacetime evolution via the BSSN evolution system and general-relativistic hydrodynamics in a finite-volume discretization. The toolkit is under continuous development and contains many new code components that have been publicly released for the first time and are described in this article. We discuss the motivation behind the release of the toolkit, the philosophy underlying its development, and the goals of the project. A summary of the implemented numerical techniques is included, as are results of numerical test covering a variety of sample astrophysical problems.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Effective source approach to self-force calculations

Numerical evaluation of the self-force on a point particle is made difficult by the use of delta functions as sources. Recent methods for self-force calculations avoid delta functions altogether, using instead a finite and extended "effective source" for a point particle. We provide a review of the general principles underlying this strategy, using the specific example of a scalar point charge moving in a black hole spacetime. We also report on two new developments: (i) the construction and evaluation of an effective source for a scalar charge moving along a generic orbit of an arbitrary spacetime, and (ii) the successful implementation of hyperboloidal slicing that significantly improves on previous treatments of boundary conditions used for effective-source-based self-force calculations. Finally, we identify some of the key issues related to the effective source approach that will need to be addressed by future work.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

High accuracy binary black hole simulations with an extended wave zone

We present results from a new code for binary black hole evolutions using the moving-puncture approach, implementing finite differences in generalised coordinates, and allowing the spacetime to be covered with multiple communicating non-singular coordinate patches. Here we consider a regular Cartesian near zone, with adapted spherical grids covering the wave zone. The efficiencies resulting from the use of adapted coordinates allow us to maintain sufficient grid resolution to an artificial outer boundary location which is causally disconnected from the measurement. For the well-studied test-case of the inspiral of an equal-mass non-spinning binary (evolved for more than 8 orbits before merger), we determine the phase and amplitude to numerical accuracies better than 0.010% and 0.090% during inspiral, respectively, and 0.003% and 0.153% during merger. The waveforms, including the resolved higher harmonics, are convergent and can be consistently extrapolated to $r\to\infty$ throughout the simulation, including the merger and ringdown. Ringdown frequencies for these modes (to $(\ell,m)=(6,6)$) match perturbative calculations to within 0.01%, providing a strong confirmation that the remnant settles to a Kerr black hole with irreducible mass $M_{\rm irr} = 0.884355\pm20\times10^{-6}$ and spin $S_f/M_f^2 = 0.686923 \pm 10\times10^{-6}$

gr-qc↗