Kyoto University · Physics and Astronomy
Professor Masaru Shibata's research lab specializes in numerical relativity and relativistic astrophysics, focusing on the dynamical processes of compact binary mergers—particularly neutron star-neutron star and black hole-neutron star systems. The lab conducts high-precision 3D simulations in full general relativity to study gravitational wave emission, post-merger remnant formation, and the conditions for short gamma-ray burst central engines. A central theme is the connection between numerical simulations and multi-messenger observations, such as those from GW170817, to constrain nuclear equations of state and neutron star properties.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Gravitational-wave observation together with a large number of electromagnetic observations shows that the source of the latest gravitational-wave event, GW170817, detected primarily by advanced LIGO, is the merger of a binary neutron star. We attempt to interpret this observational event based on our results of numerical-relativity simulations performed so far, paying particular attention to the optical and infrared observations. We finally reach a conclusion that this event is described consis
We review the current status of general relativistic studies for the coalescence of black hole-neutron star (BH-NS) binaries. First, procedures for a solution of BH-NS binaries in quasi-equilibrium circular orbits and the numerical results, such as quasi-equilibrium sequence and mass-shedding limit, of the high-precision computation, are summarized. Then, the current status of numerical-relativity simulations for the merger of BH-NS binaries is described. We summarize our understanding for the m
Three-dimensional simulations for the merger of binary neutron stars are performed in the framework of full general relativity. We pay particular attention to the black hole formation case and to the resulting mass of the surrounding disk for exploring the possibility for formation of the central engine of short-duration gamma-ray bursts (SGRBs). Hybrid equations of state are adopted mimicking realistic, stiff nuclear equations of state (EOSs), for which the maximum allowed gravitational mass of
We present numerical results of three-dimensional simulations for the merger of binary neutron stars in full general relativity. Hybrid equations of state are adopted to mimic realistic nuclear equations of state. In this approach, we divide the equations of state into two parts as $P={P}_{\mathrm{cold}}+{P}_{\mathrm{th}}$. ${P}_{\mathrm{cold}}$ is the cold part for which we assign a fitting formula for realistic equations of state of cold nuclear matter slightly modifying the formula developed
We perform 3D numerical simulations for the merger of equal mass binary neutron stars in full general relativity. We adopt a $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$-law equation of state in the form $P=(\ensuremath{\Gamma}\ensuremath{-}1)\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}$ where P, $\ensuremath{\rho},$ $\ensuremath{\varepsilon}$ and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ are the pressure, rest mass density, specific internal energy, and the adiabatic constant with $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=2.$ As initial conditions, we adopt mo
We revisit the constraint on the maximum mass of cold spherical neutron stars coming from the observational results of GW170817. We develop a new framework for the analysis by employing both energy and angular momentum conservation laws as well as solid results of latest numerical-relativity simulations and of neutron stars in equilibrium. The new analysis shows that the maximum mass of cold spherical neutron stars can be only weakly constrained as ${M}_{\mathrm{max}}\ensuremath{\lesssim}2.3\tex
We carry out numerical-relativity simulations of coalescing binary neutron stars in a scalar-tensor theory that admits spontaneous scalarization. We model neutron stars with realistic equations of state. We choose the free parameters of the theory taking into account the constraints imposed by the latest observations of neutron-star--white-dwarf binaries with pulsar timing. We show that even within those severe constraints, scalarization can still affect the evolution of the binary neutron stars
We present results of three dimensional numerical simulations of the merger of unequal-mass binary neutron stars in full general relativity. A $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$-law equation of state $P=(\ensuremath{\Gamma}\ensuremath{-}1)\ensuremath{\rho}\ensuremath{\varepsilon}$ is adopted, where P, $\ensuremath{\rho},$ $\ensuremath{\varepsilon},$ and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ are the pressure, rest mass density, specific internal energy, and the adiabatic constant, respectively. We take $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=2
We study the dynamical stability against bar-mode deformation of rapidly spinning neutron stars with differential rotation. We perform fully relativistic 3D simulations of compact stars with $M/R \geq 0.1$, where $M$ is the total gravitational mass and $R$ the equatorial circumferential radius. We adopt an adiabatic equation of state with adiabatic index $\Gamma=2$. As in Newtonian theory, we find that stars above a critical value of $\beta \equiv T/W$ (where $T$ is the rotational kinetic energy
We study magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects arising in the collapse of magnetized, rotating, massive stellar cores to proto-neutron stars (PNSs). We perform axisymmetric numerical simulations in full general relativity with a hybrid equation of state. The formation and early evolution of a PNS are followed with a grid of $2500\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2500$ zones, which provides better resolution than in previous (Newtonian) studies. We confirm that significant differential rotation resul
We present our first successful numerical results of 3D general relativistic simulations in which the Einstein equation and the hydrodynamic equations are fully solved. This paper is especially devoted to simulations of test problems such as spherical dust collapse, stability test of perturbed spherical stars, and preservation of (approximate) equilibrium states of rapidly rotating neutron star and/or corotating binary neutron stars. These test simulations confirm that simulations of coalescing
We present our latest results for simulation for merger of black hole (BH)-neutron star (NS) binaries in full general relativity which is performed preparing a quasicircular state as initial condition. The BH is modeled by a moving puncture with no spin and the NS by the $\Gamma$-law equation of state with $\Gamma=2$ and corotating velocity field as a first step. The mass of the BH is chosen to be $\approx 3.2 M_{\odot}$ or $4.0M_{\odot}$, and the rest-mass of the NS $\approx 1.4 M_{\odot}$ with
We study the properties of the merger of black hole--neutron star (BH-NS) binaries in fully general relativistic simulation, focusing on the case that the NS is tidally disrupted. We prepare BH-NS binaries in a quasicircular orbit as the initial condition in which the BH is modeled by a nonspinning moving puncture. For modeling the NS, we adopt the $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$-law equation of state with $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=2$ and the irrotational velocity field. We change the BH mass in the range ${M}
We perform fully general relativistic simulations of rotating stellar core collapse in three spatial dimensions. The hydrodynamic equations are solved using a high-resolution shock-capturing scheme. A parametric equation of state is adopted to model collapsing stellar cores and neutron stars following Dimmelmeier et al. The early stage of the collapse is followed by an axisymmetric code. When the stellar core becomes compact enough, we start a three-dimensional simulation adding a bar-mode nonax
Using our new numerical-relativity code SACRA, long-term simulations for inspiral and merger of black hole (BH)-neutron star (NS) binaries are performed, focusing particularly on gravitational waveforms. As the initial conditions, BH-NS binaries in a quasiequilibrium state are prepared in a modified version of the moving-puncture approach. The BH is modeled by a nonspinning moving puncture and, for the NS, a polytropic equation of state with $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=2$ and the irrotational velocity
Open papers in the app to read, cite, and organize with AI.