Final answer:
Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by the movement of massive objects and propagate at the speed of light. Detecting them requires sensitive equipment like LIGO and LISA, and current understanding does not support the idea of gravitational waves creating tunnels for travel.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hypothetical scenario described involves the interaction of gravitational waves resulting from the coalescence of massive objects like black holes. When two black holes collide, they merge to form a larger black hole and emit a burst of gravitational waves. These waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime that propagate at the speed of light, similar to how a stone creates ripples on a pond's surface.
Such waves are incredibly subtle and require highly sensitive detection equipment. The LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) and the future LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) are designed to detect these waves by observing distortions they cause in spacetime. The direct detection of these waves, like those from the merger of two black holes, provides confirmation of the predictions of general relativity and allows for new astronomical insights.
However, because gravitational waves interact very weakly with matter, the scenario of a gravitational wave creating a tunnel in spacetime that would allow travel and then 'close' is purely speculative and not supported by current physical theories or experimental evidence.