Numerical Relativity & Computational Astrophysics Simulations of compact object binaries

Supercomputer technology has changed dramatically the landscape of General Relativity. Numerical Relativity, namely the formulation of Einstein field equations in a way amenable to numerical analysis, has emerged as a field of its own. I am a numerical relativist studying astrophysical systems where general relativistic effects play a fundamental role. Currently, the primary focus of my research is the numerical simulation of the coalescence of black hole binaries. The collision of black holes is a central problem in General Relativity. This problem will not only expose the complex, non-linear nature of Einstein's field equations, but it will also bring General Relativity much closer in harmony with the observations of gravitational radiation expected to take place in the near future.