1 Introduction

Initial Data for Numerical Relativity

Gregory B. Cook
Department of Physics, Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109-7507, U. S. A.

cookgb@wfu.edu
http://www.wfu.edu/~cookgb

(Accepted 26 October 2000)
(Last Amended 15 Dec 2001 Jump To The First Amendment In The Article)

Abstract:

Initial data are the starting point for any numerical simulation. In the case of numerical relativity, Einstein's equations constrain our choices of these initial data. We will examine several of the formalisms used for specifying Cauchy initial data in the tex2html_wrap_inline2971 decomposition of Einstein's equations. We will then explore how these formalisms have been used in constructing initial data for spacetimes containing black holes and neutron stars. In the topics discussed, emphasis is placed on those issues that are important for obtaining astrophysically realistic initial data for compact binary coalescence.



1 Introduction

image Initial Data for Numerical Relativity
Gregory B. Cook
http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2000-5
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