LABORATORI NAZIONALI DI LEGNARO
I will first review the present status of numerical relativity, that is, the approach to the solution of Einstein equations by means of computational physics techniques. I will then concentrate on the application of a newly developed 3D, parallel and fully general relativistic hydrodynamics code thegravitational collapse of uniformly rotating neutron stars to Kerr black holes. Special attention will be dedicated to the dynamics of the matter as well as to that of the trapped surfaces that are generated during the collapse. The use of these surfaces, allows for a precise measurement of the black hole mass and spin. Finally, I will discuss some recent results about the extraction of gravitational waves from this process and the calculation of the efficiency of gravitational radiation in gravitational collapse.

DATA: 27-01-2005