Numerical Relativity's Continued Impact on Gravitational Waves

Learn about the critical role of numerical relativity in gravitational wave detection and analysis through this 51-minute physics lecture presented by Deirdre Shoemaker and Aasim Jan for APS Physics. Explore how increasing gravitational wave detector sensitivity leads to higher signal-to-noise ratios in compact binary coalescences, presenting both opportunities and challenges for waveform interpretation. Discover the importance of calibrating waveform models against numerical relativity simulations and understand how stronger detection signals may reveal computational errors in numerical calculations. Gain insights into the intersection of computational physics and observational astronomy as the speakers examine the ongoing significance of accurate numerical relativity waveforms in gravitational wave data analysis.