NASA Achieves Breakthrough In Black Hole Simulation

[Astronuc]

NASA scientists have reached a breakthrough in computer modeling that allows them to simulate what gravitational waves from merging black holes look like. The three-dimensional simulations, the largest astrophysical calculations ever performed on a NASA supercomputer, provide the foundation to explore the universe in an entirely new way.

According to Einstein's math, when two massive black holes merge, all of space jiggles like a bowl of Jell-O as gravitational waves race out from the collision at light speed.

Previous simulations had been plagued by computer crashes. The necessary equations, based on Einstein's theory of general relativity, were far too complex. But scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., have found a method to translate Einstein's math in a way that computers can understand.

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/gwave.html

 

[Labguy]

From the article:

These mergers are by far the most powerful events occurring in the universe, with each one generating more energy than all of the stars in the universe combined.

Whoa! That's a lot of ergs! Nice summary article but I'de like to see some info on how the energy output is calculated to be that high since the masses might be large but still finite.

These massive, colliding objects produce gravitational waves of differing wavelengths and strengths, depending on the masses involved.

Different strengths I can understand; based on mass. But since we haven't yet any confirmed detection of "gravity waves", how (does anyone know) that they will or can vary in wavelength? Are we considering that gravity waves will have a "spectrum" as with EM radiation?

Just thinking.