Nov 30 2007
LIGO
LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, which is focused on finding long wavelength gravitational waves based on Einstein’s theory of general relativity. According to a Wikipedia article, the funding to build it was “$365 million (in 2002 USD)” [1] through the National Science Foundation. The antennas at Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana are one quintillion times longer than a graviton that is based on electron fractional mass and rotational kinetic energy exchange [2], and are apparently being used in an attempt to detect wavelengths at and around 756 quintillion times longer [3].
With the discovery of the graviton at very short wavelength, rather than very long, the LIGO project may have to be re-evaluated. I am sure that the scientific skills of the effected people working on LIGO can be used on other projects, and in the end we will be better off with the advancement of science into new and exciting times.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIGO
[2] http://www.fruechtetheory.com/full.html
[3] http://www.ligo-wa.caltech.edu/ligo_science/P040019-02-R.pdf