Abstract: The study of higher dimensional black holes, branes and their possible interactions is an active field of research in several different areas of modern theoretical physics. One interesting direction, which has been recently introduced by V.
Numerical Relativity has become one of the most powerful probes of relativistic space times. It allows us to recreate phenomena that are otherwise inaccessible in the laboratory. One of the main applications of numerical relativity is the study of astrophysical systems that involve strong and highly dynamical gravitational fields, such as, for example, black holes and neutrons stars. In this basic introduction we will review the fundamental concepts that underlie the field as well as some of its most important applications.
Abstract: Rapidly-spinning black holes can actually *increase* their event horizon area, and hence their entropy, by shedding mass and angular momentum. This thermodynamic statement underpins various energy-extraction mechanisms, such as the Penrose process, or the stimulated emission of radiation known as superradiance.
Flávio Coelho is currently visiting Wits University in South Africa, to continue his work on n-DBI gravity in collaboration with Shinji Hirano, who joined the academic staff of Wits in 2013.
Abstract: The inspiral of a compact object into a supermassive black hole is one of the most important sources of gravitational waves for future laser interferometer detectors in space. For the detection and subsequent observation of gravitational waves, it is necessary to compute the gravitational waves very effectively with sufficient accuracy. Post-Newtonian (PN) approximation is a conventional method to predict inspiral waveforms from coalescing binaries. Using the PN approximation, we compute the 10th post-Newtonian (10PN) order gravitational waves, i.e. v^20 beyond Newtonian approximation where v is the orbital velocity of the compact object in a circular orbit around the equatorial plane of a Kerr black hole. In this talk, we will investigate the applicability of the PN expressions to the data analysis for space based detectors of gravitational waves by comparing the PN expressions with high precision numerical calculations.
Our group coordinated the "Numerical Relativity and High Energy Physics" IRSES network (2012-2015). Here is a list of the global network meetings organized: