Choptuik Scaling and The Merger Transition

Abstract

The critical solution in Choptuik scaling is shown to be closely related to the critical solution in the black-string black-hole transition (the merger), through double analytic continuation, and a change of a boundary condition. The interest in studying various space-time dimensions D for both systems is stressed. Gundlach-Hod-Piran off-critical oscillations, familiar in the Choptuik set-up, are predicted for the merger system and are predicted to disappear above a critical dimension D*=10. The scaling constants, Delta(D), gamma(D), are shown to combine naturally to a single complex number.

19 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables. v2: added details on reference, typographical changes. v3: see `Note Added' at end of Introduction