This thesis is conceptually divided into two parts. The first and main part concerns the generation of gravitational radiation that is emitted from merging black-hole binary systems using Numerical Relativity methods. The second part presents the methodology of the search for gravitational-wave bursts that are emitted in core-collapse Supernovae. My approach to Numerical Relativity is to utilise the late-time gravitational radiation of merging binary black holes to extract key astrophysical parameters from such systems via standard parameter estimation techniques. I begin with an introductory chapter that outlines the standard theories of stationary and perturbed black holes. In addition, up-to-date techniques in performing binary black hole simulations, the current and near-future status of the global network of gravitational-wave detectors, as well as the most promising gravitational-wave sources. I conclude the chapter with elements on parameter estimation techniques, such as Bayesian analysis and the Fisher information matrix. In Chapter 2, I discuss detection issues and parameter estimation results from the late-time radiation of colliding non-spinning black holes in quasi-circular orbits, and propose a practical test of General Relativity, as well as of the nature of the merged compact object. Chapter 3 involves similar parameter extraction calculations, but involves a more realistic approach, whereby the effect of the various angular parameters on parameter estimation is considered, placing an emphasis on the actual science benefit from measuring the gravitational radiation from perturbed intermediate and supermassive black holes. In Chapter 4 we present the results of an extensive Numerical Relativity study of merging spinning black hole binaries and argue that the mass ratio and individual spins of a non-precessing progenitor binary can be measured solely by observing the late-time radiation. Chapter 5 presents the methodology in carrying out searches for gravitationalwave bursts (GWB) from core-collapse Supernovae with a dedicated for GWB searches pipeline (X-Pipeline) and presents the sensitivity performance of XPipeline in detecting GWBs associated with certain Supernova candidates during the two most recent LIGO-Virgo-GEO Science Runs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:569925 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Kamaretsos, I. |
| Publisher | Cardiff University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://orca.cf.ac.uk/46220/ |
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