An approach to numerical relativity in spherical polar coordinate

Pedro Montero, MPA Munich

In the absence of symmetry assumptions most numerical relativity simulations adopt Cartesian coordinates. While Cartesian coordinates have some desirable properties, spherical polar coordinates appear better suited for certain applications, including gravitational collapse and supernova simulations. I will discuss an approach to perform relativistic hydrodynamics, coupled to dynamical spacetimes, in spherical polar coordinates without symmetry assumptions. I will also show some preliminary results on the collapse of supermassive stars and accretion disks simulations