How soon might we see hard evidence of gravitational waves from violent events like colliding black holes?
LIGO is a several-stage project. We upgrade the detectors to better and better sensitivity. We are now operating our first detectors, completing the first long search. It’s possible, but not probable, that we already have gravitational waves in the can, that we will see them as we complete the data analysis. In Advanced LIGO, which will begin its searches early in the coming decade, we expect to see a rich plethora of different types of waves, with signals coming in every day or week. Can you describe briefly how you are going to be able to detect gravitational waves? When gravitational waves reach the earth, the waves stretch and squeeze space. This is a tiny stretch and squeeze. Far too small to detect with ordinary human senses. We are attempting to detect the gravitational waves by hanging two huge mirrors from wires, each pair of mirrors about two and a half miles apart, and as the waves pass, the mirrors ride on that stretching and squeezing space so they are pushed apart and pul
