We discuss (3+1) dimensional general relativistic hydrodynamic simulations ofclose neutron star binary systems. The relativistic field equations are solvedat each time slice with a spatial 3-metric chosen to be conformally flat.Against this solution the hydrodynamic variables and gravitational radiationare allowed to respond. We have studied four physical processes which occur asthe stars approach merger. These include: 1) the relaxation to a hydrodynamicstate of almost no spin; 2) relativistically driven compression, heating, andneutrino emission; 3) collapse to two black holes; and 4) orbit inspiraloccurring at a lower frequency than previously expected. We give a briefaccount of the physical origin of these effects and an explanation of why theydo not appear in models based upon, 1PN hydrodynamics, a weak field multipoleexpansion, a tidal analysis, or a rigidly corotating velocity field. Theimplication of these results for gravity wave detectors is also discussed.
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