Einstein Telescope
Encyclopedia
Einstein Telescope or Einstein Observatory, is a future third generation gravitational wave
detector, currently being designed by different institutions in the European Union
. It will be able to test Einstein
’s Theory of General Relativity in strong field condition and realize precision gravitational wave astronomy.
ET is officially a Design Study project supported by the European Commission under the Framework Programme 7 (FP7, Grant Agreement 211743). It concerns the study and the conceptual design for a new research infrastructure in the emergent field of Gravitational Wave Astronomy.
and LIGO
, as first generation detectors, is well defined. After the current upgrade to their so-called enhanced level, the detectors will evolve toward their second generation: the advanced Virgo and Ligo detectors. According to the current gravitational sources modeling, when these apparatuses will reach their nominal sensitivity, the detection of the gravitational waves seems assured in few months of data taking. But the sensitivity needed to test the Einstein’s gravity in strong field condition or to realize a precision gravitational wave astronomy, mainly of massive stellar bodies or of highly asymmetric (in mass) binary stellar systems goes beyond the expected performances of the advanced detectors and of their subsequent upgrades. In fact, for example, the fundamental limitations at low frequency of the sensitivity of the 2nd generation detectors are given by the seismic noise, the related gravitational gradient noise (so-called Newtonian noise) and the thermal noise of the suspension last stage and of the test masses.
To circumvent these limitations new infrastructures are necessary: an underground site for the detector, to limit the effect of the seismic noise, and cryogenic facilities to cool down the mirrors to directly reduce the thermal vibration of the test masses.
Gravitational wave
In physics, gravitational waves are theoretical ripples in the curvature of spacetime which propagates as a wave, traveling outward from the source. Predicted to exist by Albert Einstein in 1916 on the basis of his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves theoretically transport energy as...
detector, currently being designed by different institutions in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. It will be able to test Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
’s Theory of General Relativity in strong field condition and realize precision gravitational wave astronomy.
ET is officially a Design Study project supported by the European Commission under the Framework Programme 7 (FP7, Grant Agreement 211743). It concerns the study and the conceptual design for a new research infrastructure in the emergent field of Gravitational Wave Astronomy.
Motivation
The evolution of the current gravitational wave detectors VirgoVirgo interferometer
The Virgo is a gravitational wave detector in Italy, which commenced operations in 2007. It is one of a handful of the world's major experiments working towards the observation of gravitational waves....
and LIGO
LIGO
LIGO, which stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, is a large-scale physics experiment aiming to directly detect gravitational waves. Cofounded in 1992 by Kip Thorne and Ronald Drever of Caltech and Rainer Weiss of MIT, LIGO is a joint project between scientists at MIT,...
, as first generation detectors, is well defined. After the current upgrade to their so-called enhanced level, the detectors will evolve toward their second generation: the advanced Virgo and Ligo detectors. According to the current gravitational sources modeling, when these apparatuses will reach their nominal sensitivity, the detection of the gravitational waves seems assured in few months of data taking. But the sensitivity needed to test the Einstein’s gravity in strong field condition or to realize a precision gravitational wave astronomy, mainly of massive stellar bodies or of highly asymmetric (in mass) binary stellar systems goes beyond the expected performances of the advanced detectors and of their subsequent upgrades. In fact, for example, the fundamental limitations at low frequency of the sensitivity of the 2nd generation detectors are given by the seismic noise, the related gravitational gradient noise (so-called Newtonian noise) and the thermal noise of the suspension last stage and of the test masses.
To circumvent these limitations new infrastructures are necessary: an underground site for the detector, to limit the effect of the seismic noise, and cryogenic facilities to cool down the mirrors to directly reduce the thermal vibration of the test masses.
Technical Groups
The ET-FP7 project, through its four technical working groups is addressing the basic questions in the realization of this new observatory: site location and characteristics (WP1), suspension design and technologies (WP2), detector topology and geometry (WP3), detection capabilities requirements and Astrophysics potentialities (WP4). The physicists directly involved in the ET project are aware of the difficulty of the duty to realize a conceptual design of the new observatory in a so short time and for this reason the project is open to all the scientists willing to collaborate to the ET adventure. An appropriate body, the science team, has been created to support the scientists, not belonging to the 8 partners, interested to contribute to the effort.Members
ET is a design study project in the European Framework Programme (FP7). It has been proposed by 8 European research institutes leader in the gravitational wave experimental research. The project coordination is realized by the European Gravitational Observatory.- European Gravitational Observatory
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V., acting through Max- Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
- University of Birmingham
- University of Glasgow
- NIKHEF
- Cardiff University
Further reading
- Fundamentals of Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors by Peter R. Saulson, ISBN 9810218206.
- Einstein's Unfinished Symphony by Marcia Bartusiak, ISBN 0425186202.
- Gravity's Shadow: The Search for Gravitational Waves by Harry Collins, ISBN 0226113787.
- Traveling at the Speed of Thought by Daniel Kennefick, ISBN 9780691117270
See also
- (ASPERA: Astroparticle physics European network)
- (European astroparticle physics portal)
- Tests of general relativityTests of general relativityAt its introduction in 1915, the general theory of relativity did not have a solid empirical foundation. It was known that it correctly accounted for the "anomalous" precession of the perihelion of Mercury and on philosophical grounds it was considered satisfying that it was able to unify Newton's...
. - EGO, the European Gravitational Observatory.
- LIGOLIGOLIGO, which stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, is a large-scale physics experiment aiming to directly detect gravitational waves. Cofounded in 1992 by Kip Thorne and Ronald Drever of Caltech and Rainer Weiss of MIT, LIGO is a joint project between scientists at MIT,...
, for a gravitational wave detector. - VIRGOVirgo-Astronomy:* Virgo Cluster, a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Virgo* Virgo , a constellation* Virgo Stellar Stream, remains of a dwarf galaxy* Virgo Supercluster, a galactic supercluster-Surname:* Virgo...
, for another gravitational wave detector. - GEO 600GEO 600GEO 600 is a gravitational wave detector located near Sarstedt, Germany. This instrument, and its sister interferometric detectors, when operational, are some of the most sensitive gravitational wave detectors ever designed...
, for a gravitational wave detector located in Hannover, Germany. - Einstein@HomeEinstein@HomeEinstein@Home is a volunteer distributed computing project hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics . The project is directed by Bruce Allen...
, for a volunteer distributed computing program one can download in order to help the LIGO/GEO teams analyze their data.