Fully Nonlinear Gravitational Wave Simulations from Past to Future Null Infinity

Abstract

We present the first numerical simulations of asymptotically flat space-times whose computational domain includes past and future null infinity. As an application, we explore the scattering of a gravitational wave in a black hole space-time. The study is conducted in the fully nonlinear regime using an initial boundary value problem formulation of Friedrich's generalized conformal field equations. We calculate the Bondi energy, Bondi news, and gravitational information at both past and future null infinity and discuss their relationships.