VirgoLab’s Purpose

VirgoLab is the new organizational structure mandated by the EGO Council to operate, commission, and upgrade the Virgo interferometer so it can deliver calibrated, high-quality gravitational-wave data. Its mission is to ensure Virgo reaches the required sensitivity to remain a cornerstone of the global network of observatories (with LIGO and KAGRA), providing essential data for research in gravitation and astrophysics. VirgoLab unites EGO and member laboratories in a distributed framework, ensuring long-term operation, technical innovation, and sustained European leadership in gravitational-wave detection

Perugia group contrbution to the VirgoLab

The Virgo Perugia group brings expertise in thermal noise studies, monolithic payload development, quantum noise reduction, advanced optical coatings, vacuum technology and control software, making its activities highly relevant to VirgoLab’s mission. Specifically, the group proposes to contribute in four main areas:

• Monolithic suspensions – design, development, and service of monolithic and steel wire suspensions, supported by dedicated local facilities for wire baking, low-seismic noise suspension testing, and advanced material characterization (e.g. GeNS, tensile tests, SEM-EDX, Raman, XRD, Brillouin).

• Control systems – development, documentation, and maintenance of control software and automation algorithms for complex Virgo subsystems.

• Vacuum and seismic isolation systems – support for activities related to vacuum infrastructure and super-attenuators, leveraging engineering know-how and a local mechanical workshop.

The group provides substantial manpower contribution, with regular on-site presence at EGO and commits to engaging young researchers and students. Its contributions align with several VirgoLab Technical Teams—Mechanics & Vacuum, Optics & Light Sources, Controls & Simulations and Project Management—ensuring that Perugia plays a interdisciplinary role in detector operations, commissioning and upgrades.

CAOS laboratory

CAOS (Centro per Applicazioni sulle Onde gravitazionali e la Sismologia) is an international infrastructure primarily dedicated to the development of technologies for the Einstein Telescope (ET) in the field of seismic filtering and low-noise control. These activities also have potential applications in related areas, particularly in seismology and earthquake early warning systems.

The laboratory will be able to host an interferometer with arms of approximately 10 meters, equipped with suspensions equivalent to those planned for third-generation gravitational wave detectors, such as ET, at full scale (1:1).