Collisional N-body Simulations - Black Hole Binary Mergers and FORTRAN Integration

Explore the physics of black hole binary mergers and N-body simulations in this technical lecture from Oliver Anagnostou of the University of Melbourne. Gain deep insights into NBODY6, a cutting-edge simulation code used for modeling star clusters and their role in compact binary mergers. Learn about the fundamental mechanics of N-body simulations, including 4th order integration, particle numbers, and CPU core utilization. Discover how dense star clusters serve as factories for binary mergers, now confirmed through gravitational wave detections. Examine the detailed physics of supernovae, post-merger remnant properties, and second-generation black holes through extensive code upgrades. Understand key concepts like merger detection, formation channels, mass ratios, spin magnitudes, recoil velocities, and black hole retention in clusters. Investigate the relationships between core black hole mass fractions, structural concentration indices, and their correlations with pulsar observations.