We study dynamics and radiation generation in the last few orbits and merger of a binary black hole system , applying recently developed techniques for simulations of moving black holes .
Our analysis of the gravitational radiation waveforms and dynamical black hole trajectories produces a consistent picture for a set of simulations with black holes beginning on circular-orbit trajectories at a variety of initial separations .
We find profound agreement at the level of 1 % among the simulations for the last orbit , merger and ringdown .
We are confident that this part of our waveform result accurately represents the predictions from Einstein ’ s General Relativity for the final burst of gravitational radiation resulting from the merger of an astrophysical system of equal-mass non-spinning black holes .
The simulations result in a final black hole with spin parameter a / m = 0.69 .
We also find good agreement at a level of roughly 10 % for the radiation generated in the preceding few orbits .