I am Ananya Adhikari. I am a Postdoc in the gravity group, Grit, within the CENTRA research division of the Department of Physics at the Instituto Superior Técnico, working with Prof David Hilditch. Before this, I completed my PhD from the Department of Physics at the Florida Atlantic University (FAU), working with Prof Wolfgang Tichy.
My research focuses on computational general relativity and is split into two broad directions, with multiple subprojects within each. The astrophysical side of my work involves simulating binary neutron star (BNS) inspirals and mergers, and studying the associated gravitational wave signals and matter dynamics. The mathematical aspect of my research explores extreme spacetimes at the threshold of gravitational collapse, and the fascinating critical phenomena demonstrated by such spacetimes. These simulations are carried out with large scale computational time allocation project grants on supercomputers.
My current research in the GRIT group within CENTRA - IST with Prof David Hilditch focuses on study of critical phenomena at the threshold of black hole formation through the collapse of gravitational wave initial data in axisymmetry. My doctoral research at Florida Atlantic University before this involved numerical relativistic simulation of compact objects, focusing principally on neutron stars (NSs), under the supervision of Prof Wolfgang Tichy. Gravitational Wave (GW) observation events, along with counterparts in other accompanying spectra, ushered the current age of multimessenger astrophysics. Given this scenario, I worked on simulating neutron stars with three objectives: (i) improving the accuracy and efficiency of the simulating program, (ii) exploring new physics and NS configurations, and (iii) investigating GW observation events through tailored simulations. Before my doctoral research, I studied Hawking radiation and Unruh effect, involving quantum field theory on curved space-time.
Below are all the projects that I am working on currently and have worked on in the past.
Improving the discontinuous Galerkin method-based numerical relativity program, Nmesh,
specifically focusing on simulating neutron stars with higher accuracy
efficient results.
Related publication:
arXiv:2212.06340,
arXiv:2502.07204.
Spinning dark matter admixed neutron star inspirals and associated gravitational wave
signals and matter interactions.
Related publication:
arXiv:2502.07204.
Simulating binary neutron stars with precessing spins and eccentric orbits with the entropy-limited hydrodynamics (ELH) approach.
Modelling the GW190425 gravitational wave event by modeling it as a Binary Neutron Star
(BNS) merger event and studying the effect of different Equations of State.
Related publication:
arXiv:2109.04063,
arXiv:2210.16366.
Simulating a single black hole to test and optimize the new gravity evolution system in the Nmesh program.
Demonstrating how well-known non-equilibrium statistical phenomenon corresponding to the
fluctuation-dissipation theorem holds for the Unruh or Hawking radiation.
Related publication:
arXiv:1707.01333.
