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Comparing an analytical spacetime metric for a merging binary to a fully nonlinear numerical evolution using curvature scalars
Published in Physical Review D 97, 084007
(Wednesday, April 4, 2018)
Abstract
We introduce a new geometrically invariant prescription for comparing two different spacetimes based on geodesic deviation. We use this method to compare a family of recently introduced analytical spacetime representing inspiraling black-hole binaries to fully nonlinear numerical solutions to the Einstein equations. Our method can be used to improve analytical spacetime models by providing a local measure of the effects that violations of the Einstein equations will have on timelike geodesics, and indirectly, gas dynamics. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of this method.