John's Big Question

What is this image?

This picture shows the result of a numerical simulation of the gravitational radiation generated by the merger of two black holes. The image gives some impression of the incredible amounts of energy released in the form of gravitational waves as this happens.

I also like this image because this particular data was produced in one of the first successful simulations of this process. So to me it also represents a great achievement in our field finally being able do these calculations. Since this was produced in 2006, hundreds of black hole merger simulations have been published.

Publication Date: January, 2010