Ripples in Spacetime | AI Learning Guide

Einstein predicted that violent cosmic events would ripple through spacetime itself. LIGO detects these gravitational waves using laser interferometry. When a wave passes, it stretches one arm of the detector while squeezing the other, changing the laser interference pattern by less than the width of a proton.

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Generating Gravitational Waves

General Relativity predicts that accelerating massive objects distort spacetime, sending out ripples called gravitational waves. These waves stretch and squeeze space perpendicular to their direction of travel.

LIGO Detection Principle

LIGO uses laser interferometry to detect these tiny distortions. A passing wave changes the length of the detector's arms by a fraction of a proton width, altering the interference pattern of the lasers.