Gravitational Waves and Black Hole Formation

Abstract

We study the process of black hole formation caused from colliding gravitational compact objects (particles or stars). The collision of compact objects is modeled as self-gravitating fluid accompanied by a plane gravitational wave. It is theorized that when two gravitational waves collide they can produce produce a black hole, but the exact process explaining this phenomenon is not completely known. One possible explanation is the focusing effect that gravitational wave has on particles moving through it. Our thesis will run simulations exploring the effects of focusing on black hole formation for different gravitational wave distributions. Our results show that focusing plays a major role in the formation of black holes when two gravitational wave collide.