The Einstein Telescope will be an advanced observatory for the detection and study of gravitational waves. These, according to Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, distort the space through which they move. These gravitational waves now let us look at the universe in an entirely new and promising way.

The underground Einstein telescope is designed to collect signals from the phase immediately after the Big Bang and study the nature of extremely heavy objects such as neutron stars and black holes. The observatory is therefore of great importance for international nature and astronomy. Construction costs are estimated at €1 billion and the scale is comparable to the CERN physics research complex near Geneva.

To detect gravitational waves, the Einstein Telescope measures longitudinal changes in 3 tunnels, each 10 kilometres long, which, in the shape of an equilateral triangle, come to be about 200 to 300 metres underground. Inside the tunnels shine laser beams that normally neutralise each other unless a gravitational wave has passed through that has distorted space. The resulting light signal forms the fingerprint of a gravitational wave and contains information about the signal source, such as the formation of a black hole or colliding neutron stars.

Artist Impression of the Einstein Telescope

The border region of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany is in the picture as a possible site. This is because of its tranquillity, stable soil, and strong ecosystem of knowledge institutions and high-tech companies.

Will this remote universe research centre be located in this region? In his presentation, Mr Bjorn Vink, geohydrologist and supervisor of the deep drilling and establishment deep noise measurement site Terziet in southern Limburg, will elaborate on the Einstein Telescope and the recently discovered things under the Geul Valley near Terziet.

Programme

During the lecture, the Einstein Telescope project will be explained in the following sections:

  • General, briefly covering working principle and objectives

  • Geological survey in Terziet South Limburg and first insights into seismic noise

  • Planning with current status and future activities

Questions can be asked both in advance when registering and via chat during the lecture.

Start is at 15.30h, you can register from 15.00h (according to instruction that will be sent after your registration).

Intended end (depending on questions) at 17.00h

Details and registration

  • Due to the corona virus, physical participation is unfortunately not possible and the lecture will take place via a Webinar in which you can participate via "Microsoft Teams".

  • The working language will be English due to the participation of German colleagues from the VDI Germany, Niederrheinischer Bezirksverein.

  • The maximum number of KIVI participants is limited to 60 people.

  • There is no charge for this Webinar

  • You can register via the KIVI Region North and Central Limburg website until Monday 22 June 2020 at the latest. You will then be sent the registration details and instruction.