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Abstract:
The final evolution of a binary-black-hole system gives rise to a recoil velocity if an asymmetry is present in the emitted gravitational radiation. Measurements of this effect for nonspinning binaries with unequal masses have pointed out that kick velocities ~175 km/s can be reached for a mass ratio ~=0.36. However, a larger recoil can be obtained for equal-mass binaries if the asymmetry is provided by the spins. Using two independent methods we show that the merger of such binaries yields velocities as large as ~440 km/s for black holes having unequal spins that are antialigned and parallel to the orbital angular momentum