SRON and partners develop vibration damping for cold optics of the Einstein Telescope

The R&D scheme is part of the Einstein Telescope valorization program for high-tech companies – a program of the National Growth Fund. The purpose of the scheme is to encourage innovation and accelerated development of new technologies for the Einstein Telescope. And in turn strengthening the candidacy for the arrival of the Einstein Telescope and the future earning potential of the Netherlands.

The Einstein Telescope must be made many times more sensitive than all its predecessors. This will enable the observatory to observe gravitational waves from the entire visible universe. To achieve that, the researchers want to eliminate all possible forms of noise, such as ground motion and heat vibrations in the equipment. Within this field, specialized vibration damping is being developed that further isolates the core and auxiliary optics of the Einstein Telescope from the environment.

The eight partners of the Improved Cold Vibration Isolation for science and industry (ICVI) project are jointly developing technology that cools the measurement setup to cryogenic temperatures without introducing new vibration sources. ICVI’s cryogenic vibration isolation technology, for example, detects unwanted vibrations with free-floating, magnetic particles in superconducting traps. This creates a setup that is both very cold and hangs very still.

Partners: Onnes Technologies B.V. (coordinator), Leiden University, JPE B.V., Nikhef, SRON, Piak Electronic Design B.V., Delft Circuits B.V., Magnetic Innovations B.V.

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. This is because of its tranquility, stable soil, and strong ecosystem of knowledge institutions and high-tech companies. The most suitable location and where this top facility will be built will most likely be announced in 2026.