Close-limit approximation to neutron star collisions - art. no. 104021

We develop a close-limit approximation to the head-on collision of two neut ron stars similar to that used to treat the merger of black hole binaries. This approximation can serve as a useful benchmark test for future fully no n-linear studies. For neutron star binaries, the close-limit approximation involves assuming that the merged object can be approximated as a perturbed , stable neutron star during the ring-down phase of the coalescence. We int roduce a prescription for the construction of initial data sets, discuss th e physical plausibility of the various assumptions involved, and briefly in vestigate the character of the gravitational radiation produced during the merger. The numerical results show that several of the merged object's flui d pulsation modes are excited to a significant level. [S0556-2821(99)06422- X].