ETpathfinder will expand into a permanent European research centre

With the expansion of ETPathfinder, Maastricht University will become the permanent European centre for validation and integration of technologies essential for the observation of low-frequency gravitational waves. Part of this expansion plan is the construction of two buildings and cleanrooms large enough to host full-scale ET towers.

The construction of the extension named ET-LFC will cost 52 million euros. A letter sent to parliament reveals that the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) will contribute 25 million of this amount. A few weeks ago, the Province of Limburg (NL) had already proposed to provide four million euros for a design study of the ET-LFC.

These very positive steps for the ETPathfinder naturally also strengthen the bid for the Einstein Telescope in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine.

Full-scale towers

Lower frequency gravitational wave signals are of high significance as they allow us to observe much deep into the universe than current detectors like LIGO and Virgo allow.

These full-scale towers, 12 metres high, will be located in two new buildings connected to the current ETPathfinder. The expansion has been named the Einstein Telescope Low Frequency Development, Integration and Training Centre, abbreviated to ET-LFC.

Construction to start in 2027

Professor of Gravitational Studies Stefan Hild, who leads the ETPathfinder team, indicates that this intention should be feasible thanks to cooperation with a large number leading research institutes from across Europe. He hopes that construction can begin in 2027.

Located in Maastricht on the Randwijck campus, ETPathfinder is the research laboratory in a cleanroom where technologies for the Einstein Telescope are tested and improved. The current six towers of the ETpathfinder are prototypes that are smaller than the towers that will soon be built at the three corners of the underground Einstein Telescope.

By building a few full-scale towers in the new ET-LFC a fourfold benefit for ET can be achievd:

• Integrating and validating ET low-frequency technology into a system as similar as possible to the requirements and conditions of the Einstein Telescope itself;
• Developing and validating installation and maintenance procedures
• Developing and validating quality control procedures
• Training for staff and skills development