Generalized source multipole moments of dynamical horizons in binary black hole mergers

Abstract: In this work, we uncover new features in the evolution of the deformations of the dynamical horizon geometry in a binary black hole merger scenario using numerical relativity. First, in the inspiral phase, owing to the deformations, the dynamical horizons of the two black holes are found to steadily acquire multipole moments that vanish when the horizons are isolated. Out of these, the dominant moment is found to be the quadrupole moment. Second, we show that they encode detailed information about the dynamics of the binary black hole system. The dominant quadrupole multipole moment is particularly shown to be strongly correlated with the gravitational field of the system at future null infinity. Therefore, the gravitational waves carried away from the system contain information about the geometrical structure of the black holes in the strong-field regime. Third, we also find that, in the post-merger phase, the multipolar structure of the outer common dynamical horizon of the system is strongly correlated with that of the individual horizons just before the merger. The outer common horizon then settles down to equilibrium as suggested by the decay of the multipole moments gained by the system through the inspiral phase.