Virgo Interferometer
Introduction
The Virgo Interferometer is a large-scale scientific project located near Pisa, Italy, designed to detect and measure gravitational waves. This facility is a part of the worldwide network of gravitational wave detectors, working in conjunction with similar facilities such as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in the United States.
Design and Construction
The Virgo Interferometer is a Michelson interferometer, a specific type of interferometer used in the field of physics to measure the properties of light and other waves. The Virgo Interferometer consists of two orthogonal arms, each 3 kilometers in length. These arms are evacuated tubes in which laser beams are reflected back and forth between mirrors located at the ends of the arms.
The construction of the Virgo Interferometer began in 1993 and was completed in 2003. The facility was then upgraded between 2013 and 2016, a project known as Advanced Virgo, which improved the sensitivity of the detector and increased its potential for discovering gravitational waves.
Operation and Discoveries
The Virgo Interferometer began its first observational run in 2007. Since then, it has undergone several upgrades to improve its sensitivity and has participated in several significant discoveries in the field of gravitational wave astronomy.
In August 2017, the Virgo Interferometer, along with the LIGO detectors, made the first direct observation of a binary neutron star merger, an event known as GW170817. This event was significant as it was the first time that gravitational waves were detected from an event that was also observed by conventional telescopes.
Future Plans
The Virgo collaboration has plans for further upgrades to the Virgo Interferometer, which will further improve its sensitivity and enable it to detect gravitational waves from even more distant astronomical events. These upgrades, known as the Virgo+ project, are expected to be completed by 2022.