Simulations of gravitational collapse in null coordinates. II. Critical collapse of an axisymmetric scalar field

2024/07/09 by Carsten Gundlach, Thomas W. Baumgarte, David Hilditch · 10 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Classical mechanics #Computer science #Cosmology and Gravitation Theories #Geometry #Gravitation #Gravitational collapse #Gravitational field #Mathematical physics #Mathematics #Mechanics #Null (SQL) #Physics #Rotational symmetry #Scalar (mathematics) #Scalar field

paper · open access · doi:10.1103/physrevd.110.024019

published in Physical review. D/Physical review. D. 110(2) (American Physical Society)

openalex publication_date 2024/07/09 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We present the first numerical simulations in null coordinates of the collapse of nonspherical regular initial data to a black hole. We restrict to twist-free axisymmetry, and reinvestigate the critical collapse of a nonspherical massless scalar field. We find that the Choptuik solution governing scalar field critical collapse in spherical symmetry persists when fine-tuning moderately nonspherical initial data to the threshold of black hole formation. The nonsphericity evolves as an almost-linear perturbation until the end of the self-similar phase, and becomes dominant only in the final collapse to a black hole. We compare with numerical results of Choptuik et al., Baumgarte, and Marouda et al., and conclude that they have been able to evolve somewhat more nonspherical solutions. Future work with larger deviations from spherical symmetry, and in particular vacuum collapse, will require a different choice of radial coordinate that allows the null generators to reconverge locally.

Citations

• The affine-null formulation of the gravitational equations: spherical case

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• Simulations of gravitational collapse in null coordinates IV: evolving through the event horizon, with an application to the spherical charged scalar field
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