ET (Einstein Telescope) is 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 that will bring Europe to the forefront of the most promising new development in our quest to understand the history and future of the Universe, the emergence of the field of Gravitational Wave Astronomy.
Eight research institutions, leading the gravitational wave detection research in Europe, are collaborating together to the attainment of an ambitious target. The aim of this project is the realization of the conceptual design of a future European third generation gravitational wave detector; in fact the evolution of the current (first generation) gravitational wave detectors is well defined: after the current upgrade to the so-called enhanced level, the detectors will evolve toward their second generation: the advanced (Virgo and LIGO) detector. 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. 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 our effort.
The importance of the ET project is evident; despite the fact that the design study activities are just started, the need for a 3rd generation gravitational wave observatory is already discussed in the roadmaps of the major astrophysics research institutions in Europe. For example, the ASPERA organization, a network of national government agencies responsible for coordinating and funding national research efforts in Astroparticle Physics, includes ET in the “Magnificent Seven” list in its roadmap.
For more information, please contact:
European Projects Service, or EGO: European Gravitational Observatory
