This grant, part of the Einstein Telescope valorization program for high-tech companies, is funded by the National Growth Fund to foster innovation in Dutch high-tech sectors. VU physicist Conor Mow-Lowry is the Nikhef (National Institute for Subatomic Physics) lead for this consortium.
Consortium SENVIDET: extreme resolution vibration sensors are developing several sensors that will isolate the Einstein Telescope’s mirror suspensions from the both vibrations and gradual movements of the surrounding rock. This presents a challenge because current devices primarily sense fast motion but the Einstein Telescope is also affected by slow movements. SENVIDET aims to measure motion smaller than a billionth of a meter and billionth of an angular degree using laser-interferometer technologies.
Lead engineer Jochem Klaassen of coordinator Lionite in Delft: “This assignment is a real challenge because there is no still reference point on which to base your measurements: nothing on Earth is more still than the Einstein Telescope. This grant will enable us to develop technology beyond the state of the art. This will undoubtedly have applications in other industries, such as high-end manufacturing and the semiconductor industry.”
Partners of this consortium are Lionite (coordinator), DEMCON B.V., Innoseis B.V., Nikhef (including VU), Quantified Air B.V., Somni Solutions B.V., VSL B.V.
What does vibration isolation entail?
The Einstein Telescope must be made many times more sensitive than all its predecessors. This will enable us to record gravitational waves from the entire observable universe. To achieve that, the researchers must eliminate all possible forms of noise, such as ground motion and thermal vibrations in the observatory. Within this field, specialized vibration damping is being developed that further isolates the core and auxiliary optics of the Einstein Telescope from the environment.
About the Einstein Telescope
The underground Einstein Telescope will be Europe’s most advanced observatory for gravitational waves. With it, researchers can ‘hear’ black holes collide and gain knowledge about the early universe. The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are jointly considering whether to host this world-class observatory. The border region of these three countries is an ideal location for the observatory due to its tranquility, stable bedrock, and strong ecosystem of knowledge institutions and high-tech companies. The most suitable location for the Einstein Telescope will likely be announced in 2026.