We describe a procedure for constructing initial data for boosted black holes in the moving-punctures approach to numerical relativity that endows the initial time slice from the outset with trumpet geometry within the black hole interiors. We then demonstrate the procedure in numerical simulations using an evolution code from the Einstein Toolkit that employs $1+\log$ slicing. By using boosted Kerr-Schild geometry as an intermediate step in the construction, the Lorentz boost of a single black hole can be precisely specified and multiple, widely separated black holes can be treated approximately by superposition of single hole data. There is room within the scheme for later improvement to resolve (iterate) the constraint equations in the multiple black hole case. The approach is shown to yield an initial trumpet slice for one black hole that is close to, and rapidly settles to, a stationary trumpet geometry. By avoiding the assumption of conformal flatness, initial data in this new approach is shown to contain initial transient (or “junk”) radiation that is suppressed by as much as 2 orders of magnitude relative to that in comparable Bowen-York initial data.

• Received 28 June 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.98.044014