Investigating the mass-ratio dependence of the prompt-collapse threshold with numerical-relativity simulations

Understand

The next observing runs of advanced gravitational-wave detectors will lead to a variety of binary neutron star detections and numerous possibilities for multi-messenger observations of binary neutron star systems.

• In this context a clear understanding of the merger process and the possibility of prompt black hole formation after merger is important, as the amount of ejected material strongly depends on the merger dynamics.
• These dynamics are primarily affected by the total mass of the binary, however, the mass ratio also influences the postmerger evolution.
• To determine the effect of the mass ratio, we investigate the parameter space around the prompt-collapse threshold with a new set of fully relativistic simulations.