Initial data and eccentricity reduction toolkit for binary black hole numerical relativity waveforms

Abstract

The production of numerical relativity waveforms that describe quasi-circular binary black hole mergers requires high-quality initial data, and an algorithm to iteratively reduce residual eccentricity. To date, these tools remain closed source, or in commercial software that prevents their use in high performance computing platforms. To address these limitations, and to ensure that the broader numerical relativity community has access to these tools, herein we provide all the required elements to produce high-quality numerical relativity simulations in supercomputer platforms, namely: open source parameter files to numerically simulate spinning black hole binaries with asymmetric mass-ratios; open source Python tools to produce high-quality initial data for numerical relativity simulations of spinning black hole binaries on quasi-circular orbits; and open source Python tools for eccentricity reduction, both as stand-alone software and also deployed in the Einstein Toolkit’s software infrastructure. This open source toolkit fills in a void in the literature at a time when numerical relativity has an ever increasing role in the study and interpretation of gravitational wave sources. As part of our community building efforts, and to streamline and accelerate the use of these resources, we provide tutorials that describe, step by step, how to obtain and use these open source numerical relativity tools.