Visit to IP2I Lyon by Mr Jan Versteeg, the Dutch Ambassador to France, and a delegation of Belgian representatives to discuss the future Virgo_nEXT and Einstein Telescope projects.

Friday 13 September 2024

During a trip to Lyon for the ‘WorldSkills 2024’, the Dutch ambassador to France was keen to visit the Advanced Materials Laboratory (LMA), which designs and supplies the mirrors for all the world’s interferometers used to detect gravitational waves. Accompanied by Belgian representatives, the visit provided an opportunity to review the progress of future projects: the forthcoming upgrades to the Virgo interferometer (Virgo_nEXT project), the aim of which is to exploit the EGO infrastructure to its full potential in the 2030s; and the Einstein Telescope, the conceptual design of which is currently under way and which aims to improve by at least an order of magnitude so that, from 2040 onwards, most of the observable universe can be studied.

After a presentation of the IP2I’s gravitational wave activities, we discussed the LMA extension project. This project, funded by a CPER, is currently being launched at the IP2I. In 2027, the extension to the LMA building will house a new very large IBS machine in a new 250m2 ISO3 clean room. This machine, the design of which is currently underway at the LMA, will enable the deposition of thin films on very large substrates (up to 1.6m in diameter). This size will make it possible to process two mirrors 60cm in diameter at the same time, thereby meeting the technological challenges proposed by Einstein Telescope in Europe and Cosmic Explorer in the US.

In recent years, the Netherlands has embarked on a vast scientific programme focusing on gravitational waves. In 2022, it will join Italy and France in piloting the EGO infrastructure, which operates the Virgo interferometer. And they are supporting one of the two proposed sites for the Einstein Telescope, the one in the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine region near Maastricht; the other being the Italian proposal in Sardinia at Sos Enattos. Jean-Luc Biarrotte (MESR-DGRI, and French representative on the EGO board and on the Board of Governmental Representatives of Einstein Telescope) and Vincent Poireau (DAS astroparticles and cosmology at IN2P3 and chairman of the EGO board) presented the French strategy for preparing Einstein Telescope: by building on EGO-Virgo, which will continue to dominate this scientific field in Europe for the next 15 years; and by consolidating the European and international organisation and scope of Virgo and Einstein Telescope. Our Belgian and Dutch partners have shown a strong interest in mirror development at the LMA. The development of industrial partnerships between France, the Netherlands and Belgium to prepare these future projects is also an important aspect of strengthening our collaborations.

Together with the upgrades to Virgo and the preparatory phase of the Einstein Telescope, these projects for the detection of gravitational waves on the ground open up numerous possibilities for scientific and technological collaboration between France, the Netherlands and Belgium, which only need to be developed further.

From left to right:

Viola Sordini, Physicist at IP2I and deputy spokesperson for the Virgo collaboration.

  1. Lodewijk Smoor – Responsible for coordinating international cooperation on the Einstein telescope and a member of ET’s Board of Governmental Representatives.
  2. Vincent Poireau, Scientific Director at IN2P3 for Astroparticles and Cosmology.

Mme Anne Ealet, Directrice de l’IP2I Lyon.

  1. Laurent Pinard, Director of the LMA.
  2. Jan Versteeg – Dutch Ambassador to France.
  3. Yves Wantens – Representative of Flanders in France.
  4. Paul Vernier – Deputy Economic and Commercial Adviser, Wallonia.
  5. Patrice Verdier, Physicist at IP2I and coordinator of Einstein Telescope France.
  6. Stefan Koreneef – Counsellor for innovation, science and technology, Netherlands Embassy.
  7. Laurent Barbieri, CNRS Rhône Auvergne Regional Delegate.
  8. Jean-Luc Biarrotte, MESR-DGRI.

(Missing from photo: Philippe Cassagnau, Vice-President of Research at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1).