Black holes are among the most bizarre and fascinating objects whose existence has been predicted by a physical theory. While black holes tend to feature prominently in the realm of science fiction movies and novels, they are also an important subject of modern scientific investigation.
Indeed, current research efforts aim at no less than the direct observation of black holes, albeit using a type of radiation not visible to the human eye. This new kind of radiation, Gravitational Waves, is predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity and the merger of black holes is considered a key candidate for the generation of these waves.
For the detection and physical interpretation of the gravitational waves, it is important to understand the detailed wave pattern that originates in the collision of black holes. Because the complexity of Einstein's equations, the dynamics of binary black hole systems cannot, in general, be studied analytically but, instead, require numerical simulations on super computers. This area of research is now known as Numerical Relativity.