We also expect to uncover some big surprises. Once completed, the two LIGO detectors will work together to detect an elusive phenomenon known as gravitational waves, which are distortions of space-time caused by accelerating masses, such as exploding stars or vibrating black holes. A device to detect gravitational waves and its use to probe the universe has been a dream of theoretical physicists for several decades, and has particularly been associated with Caltech physicist Kip Thorne. This is why gravitational waves are likely to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. The generation of gravitational waves is somewhat analogous to the generation of radio waves, although there are some fundamental differences.
Electromagnetic radiation arises when electrical charge is accelerated.
The radio or television program is encoded in the radiation as variations in the amplitude and frequency of the waves. Similarly, mass that is accelerated gives rise to gravitational radiation. Variations in the amplitude and frequency of these waves carry information about how the mass was accelerated. For example, supernovae, in-spiraling of binary star systems, collisions of black holes, and the reverberation of the universe itself from the Big Bang all have unique gravitational wave signatures. Electromagnetic radiation propagates, or moves, through space and time as oscillations of electric and magnetic fields.