LIGO: The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory

TLDR

LIGO’s technology has evolved over the past two decades. LIGO aims to detect and study astrophysical gravitational waves to advance physics and astronomy research. LIGO will conduct interferometric measurements to probe gravity’s nonlinear dynamics, black hole and neutron star properties, supernova cores, and the early universe, with construction beginning in 1992 and first searches scheduled for 1998.

Abstract

The goal of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Project is to detect and study astrophysical gravitational waves and use data from them for research in physics and astronomy. LIGO will support studies concerning the nature and nonlinear dynamics of gravity, the structures of black holes, and the equation of state of nuclear matter. It will also measure the masses, birth rates, collisions, and distributions of black holes and neutron stars in the universe and probe the cores of supernovae and the very early universe. The technology for LIGO has been developed during the past 20 years. Construction will begin in 1992, and under the present schedule, LIGO's gravitational-wave searches will begin in 1998.