Construction of initial data for perturbations of relativistic stars - art. no. 124004

We develop a framework for constructing initial data sets for perturbations about spherically symmetric matter distributions. This framework facilitat es setting initial data representing sources of gravitational radiation inv olving relativistic stars. The procedure is based on the Lichnerowicz-York conformal approach to solve the constraints in Einstein's equations. The co rrespondence of these initial data sets in terms of the standard gauge pert urbation variables in the Regge-wheeler perturbation variables is establish ed, and examples of initial data sets of merging neutron stars under the cl ose-limit approximation are presented. [S0556-2821(99)05922-6].