Vol. 15 (2012) > lrr-2012-2

doi: 10.12942/lrr-2012-2
Living Rev. Relativity 15 (2012), 2

Characteristic Evolution and Matching

1 Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute), Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, U.S.A.

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Article Abstract

I review the development of numerical evolution codes for general relativity based upon the characteristic initial-value problem. Progress in characteristic evolution is traced from the early stage of 1D feasibility studies to 2D-axisymmetric codes that accurately simulate the oscillations and gravitational collapse of relativistic stars and to current 3D codes that provide pieces of a binary black-hole spacetime. Cauchy codes have now been successful at simulating all aspects of the binary black-hole problem inside an artificially constructed outer boundary. A prime application of characteristic evolution is to extend such simulations to null infinity where the waveform from the binary inspiral and merger can be unambiguously computed. This has now been accomplished by Cauchy-characteristic extraction, where data for the characteristic evolution is supplied by Cauchy data on an extraction worldtube inside the artificial outer boundary. The ultimate application of characteristic evolution is to eliminate the role of this outer boundary by constructing a global solution via Cauchy-characteristic matching. Progress in this direction is discussed.

Keywords: Numerical relativity, Numerical methods, Characteristic initial value problem

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Since a Living Reviews in Relativity article may evolve over time, please cite the access <date>, which uniquely identifies the version of the article you are referring to:

Jeffrey Winicour,
"Characteristic Evolution and Matching",
Living Rev. Relativity 15,  (2012),  2. URL (cited on <date>):
http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2012-2

Article History

ORIGINAL http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-1998-5
Title Characteristic Evolution and Matching
Author Jeffrey Winicour
Date accepted 5 March 1998, published 8 May 1998
UPDATE http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2001-3
Title Characteristic Evolution and Matching
Author Jeffrey Winicour
Date accepted 15 February 2001, published 20 March 2001
Changes Article revision adding figures and information on the use of 3D characteristic codes to simulate black holes and the use of light cone coordinates in general relativistic astrophysics.
UPDATE http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2005-10
Title Characteristic Evolution and Matching
Author Jeffrey Winicour
Date accepted 19 October 2005, published 8 December 2005
Changes Updated and extended review, especially Sections 3 and 5.
Number of references increased from 157 to 229.
UPDATE http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2009-3
Title Characteristic Evolution and Matching
Author Jeffrey Winicour
Date accepted 9 April 2009, published 16 April 2009
Changes Significantly updated previous version. About 30 references have been added. The text has been revised at several points. Added new Sections 4, 5.3 and 6.
UPDATE http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2012-2
Title Characteristic Evolution and Matching
Author Jeffrey Winicour
Date accepted 4 January 2012, published 25 January 2012
Changes Besides various small changes, Sections 2.1, 3.1.1, 4.2.1 and 6.2 to 6.6 are new, with 54 new references.
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