Quasi-Local Linear Momentum in Black-Hole Binaries

Abstract

We propose a quasi-local formula for the linear momentum of black-hole horizons inspired by the formalism of quasi-local horizons. We test this formula using two complementary configurations: (i) by calculating the large orbital linear momentum of the two black holes in an unequal-mass, zero-spin, quasi-circular binary and (ii) by calculating the very small recoil momentum imparted to the remnant of the head-on collision of an equal-mass, anti-aligned-spin binary. We obtain results consistent with the horizon trajectory in the orbiting case, and consistent with the net radiated linear momentum for the much smaller head-on recoil velocity.

5 pages, 3 figures, revtex4

References in corpus (2)

• Observable Signatures of a Black Hole Ejected by Gravitational Radiation Recoil in a Galaxy Merger
• Approximate Killing Vectors on S^2

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Where post-Newtonian and numerical-relativity waveforms meet
• Further insight into gravitational recoil
• Foundations of multiple black hole evolutions
• Extra-Large Remnant Recoil Velocities and Spins from Near-Extremal-Bowen-York-Spin Black-Hole Binaries
• Close encounters of three black holes
• From Geometry to Numerics: interdisciplinary aspects in mathematical and numerical relativity
• Fundamental properties and applications of quasi-local black hole horizons
• Measuring eccentricity in binary black-hole initial data