Codes+

Publicly Available Software

Understanding some of the most extreme environments in the universe — such such as binary neutron star mergers and the aftermath they leave behind — requires precise theoretical modelling and advanced computational techniques. Our group focuses on developing and refining numerical codes to simulate these merger events, capturing their evolution from inspiral to post-merger phases. Given the highly complex, multi-physics nature of these events, analytical approaches alone are insufficient. Instead, state-of-the-art numerical simulations are indispensable for obtaining physically accurate and self-consistent descriptions of the system’s dynamics.

To meet these challenges, we develop and maintain several numerical codes, some of which are publicly available and listed below!

Closed-Source Software

A cornerstone of our simulation efforts is the Einstein Toolkit, a community-driven, open-source framework designed for relativistic astrophysical simulations, including compact binary inspirals and mergers. Built upon the Cactus numerical framework, it enables researchers to integrate modular components, known as “thorns,” each addressing specific aspects of the simulation.
One of such thorns is Antelope which facilitates the evolution of the spacetime metric in both vacuum conditions and in the presence of matter, supporting widely used formulations of Einstein’s equations.
To model the behavior of magnetized fluids in strong gravitational fields, we employ the Frankfurt-Illinois GRMHD (FIL) code, an extension of the IllinoisGRMHD code. FIL utilizes high-resolution shock-capturing methods exceeding second-order accuracy, ensuring precise solutions to the perfect-fluid hydrodynamic equations, even amidst strong shocks and discontinuities. This tool is instrumental in simulating the turbulent dynamics of differentially rotating, hot, and magnetized merger remnants.