Black-hole binary simulations: The mass ratio 10 ratio 1

We present the first numerical simulations of an initially nonspinning black-hole binary with mass ratio as large as 10 ratio 1 in full general relativity. The binary completes approximately three orbits prior to merger and radiates (0.415±0.017)% of the total energy and (12.48±0.62)% of the initial angular momentum in the form of gravitational waves. The single black hole resulting from the merger acquires a kick of (66.7±3.3) km/s relative to the original center of mass frame. The resulting gravitational waveforms are used to validate existing formulas for the recoil, final spin, and radiated energy over a wider range of the symmetric mass ratio parameter η=M1M2/(M1+M2)2 than previously possible. The contributions of l>2 multipoles are found to visibly influence the gravitational wave signal obtained at fixed inclination angles.