European Gravitational Observatory

Last updated
Page name or Wikidata label
European Gravitational Observatory Logo.png
Alternative namesEGO  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Location Cascina, Province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
Coordinates 43°37′53″N10°30′07″E / 43.631494°N 10.501847°E / 43.631494; 10.501847
Website www.ego-gw.it
Telescopes
Italy relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location of Page name or Wikidata label

The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) is a consortium established to manage the Virgo interferometer and its related infrastructure, as well as to promote cooperation in the field of gravitational wave research in Europe. It was founded December 11, 2000, by the French CNRS and Italian INFN, and is headquartered near Pisa, in the commune of Cascina. [1]

Contents

Overview

EGO is established under Italian law. [2] Its governing body is a council composed of appointees nominated by the consortium members (up to three councilors per member). [3] The Council appoints a Director who is the legal representative and chief executive of EGO. [4]

A scientific advisory committee advises the council on scientific and technical activities carried out by the consortium. It is composed of up to ten scientific personalities. [5]

EGO pursues these main objectives: [6]

Membership

The two founding members are the French CNRS and Italian INFN. The Dutch Nikhef joined as an observer in 2007 and a full member in early 2021. [1] Institutions from Poland, Spain and Belgium joined EGO as observers in 2023, [7] with the Belgian FWO and FNRS joining as full members in March 2025. [8]

Budget

EGO has an annual budget of €9 million split evenly between the French CNRS and Italian INFN. It also receives contributions in kind from the Dutch NIKHEF. [9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Our mission". www.ego-gw.it. European Gravitational Observatory. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  2. ESTABLISHMENT, NAME AND HEADQUARTERS (PDF) (Constituent Act, 1). June 10, 2020.
  3. THE COUNCIL (PDF) (Constituent Act, 13). June 10, 2020.
  4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL (PDF) (Constituent Act, 14). June 10, 2020.
  5. THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PDF) (Constituent Act, 17). June 10, 2020.
  6. PURPOSE (PDF) (Constituent Act, 2). June 10, 2020.
  7. Rossi, Guglielmo (2023-08-04). "EGO welcomes new observer members from Belgium, Spain and Poland". EGO - European Gravitational Observatory. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  8. Rossi, Guglielmo (2025-03-19). "Belgium is the fourth European country to join the EGO consortium". EGO - European Gravitational Observatory. Retrieved 2025-05-28.
  9. "Observatoire Européen Gravitationnel VIRGO / European Gravitational Observatory VIRGO-EGO-Virgo". Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2021-10-04.