Black Hole Binary Dynamics
We discuss a new N-body simulation method for studying black hole binary dynamics. This method avoids previous numerical problems due to large mass ratios and trapped orbits with short periods. A treatment of relativistic effects is included when the associated time-scale becomes small. Preliminary results with up to N = 240 000 particles are obtained showing systematic eccentricity growth until the relativistic regime is reached, with subsequent coalescence in some cases.
astro-ph↗