The project in Sardinia to listen to gravitational waves, Italy in the race for the new CERN: a billion -level plan

The challenge to host the great Einstein Telescope interferometer dedicated to listening to gravitational waves is becoming increasingly on between Italy and Holland. And now Germany has been added. The interest is remarkable because it will favor theAt the birth of a center similar to CERN in Geneva in which thousands of researchers will work. Not only that. A industrial and economic induced will come to life around to grow.

The purpose of the center is capture the waves generated by the origin of the universe capable of telling how everything originated. Today with electromagnetic waves it reaches 380 million years after the Big Bang; Beyond it is impossible to go. Only gravitational waves exceed the barrier. Provided by Albert Einstein, Land first generated by the merger of two black holes were listened to in 2015 With the two American stations Ligo and the discoverers conquered the Nobel Prize. Italian physicists also collaborated on the strong company of the experience of the Virgo station installed in Pisa and built by the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the French CNRS.

In 2010, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures of the European Commission proposed the construction of a more powerful interferometer and for this reason Italy proposed to host it in Sardinia, an ideal place because it was geologically stable, without seismic movements. Holland soon was added by indicating an area close to Maastricht but it would be more expensive because it would require to go deeper to neutralize the ailments of the inhabited area. The area in Sardinia is east of Nuoro near the abandoned mine of Sos Enattos.

For the creation of Einstein Telescope is expected to be an investment of 4 billion euros. Holland immediately guaranteed a billion in case it was chosen and equally ensured the Italian government. To this were added 350 million euros from the Sardinia Region. Meanwhile, the PNRR guaranteed 65 million, the Infn another 20, plus 15 initials from Sardinia, an additional 10 between Infn and Sardinia for a first laboratory already started and 5 million from European projects. The minister of university and research, Anna Maria Bernini supports the perspective now become more difficult for Germany’s entry by proposing Saxony and on which the new government must pronounce. Meanwhile he matured the idea of ​​splitting the system by building two. « Obviously it would be more expensive – note Antonio Zoccoli, Infn president – but would increase certain scientific advantages ».

The European physicists who gathered in Bologna last week while last week they seem to be gathered on this A meeting in Confindustria is now expected next month. The challenge that guarantees a future of considerable interest for the country is arduous. But the mobilization on all the fronts that emerged so far – if it continues – leaves any hope. The choice of the site (or the two sites) is expected by 2026 by the year.