Generic Tracking of Multiple Apparent Horizons with Level Flow

Abstract

We report the development of the first apparent horizon locator capable of finding multiple apparent horizons in a ``generic'' numerical black hole spacetime. We use a level-flow method which, starting from a single arbitrary initial trial surface, can undergo topology changes as it flows towards disjoint apparent horizons if they are present. The level flow method has two advantages: 1) The solution is independent of changes in the initial guess and 2) The solution can have multiple components. We illustrate our method of locating apparent horizons by tracking horizon components in a short Kerr-Schild binary black hole grazing collision.