A variety of activities are currently being carried out at the Sos Enattos candidate site, encompassing systematic local noise monitoring, identification and characterization of potential noise sources, as well as engineering and geotechnical investigations. This presentation aims to provide an updated overview of the ongoing research efforts in Sardinia.
A general high-level overview is presented of the subsurface feasibility studies at EMR. Following a successful borehole campaign in 2024, a seismic campaign is about to finish, adding valuable complementary information to the core logs. A hydro-geological model is being constructed integrating water flow and pressure tests throughout the region. A noise measurement network consisting of...
In August 2024, the Free State of Saxony officially declared its support for the ET site location bit for building the Einstein Telescope in the Lausitz (eng. Lusatia) region. The basement of this region is formed by the Lausitz Granodiorite Massif. The regional extent of the granodiorite is not known for certain, and recent observations contradict the historic geological maps in some...
The work carried out in in the candidate site for the Einstein Telescope in the EMR to characterise the functioning of deep groundwater, and its quality will be presented. Particular attention will be paid to new piezometric measurement campaigns, the interpretation of hydraulic tests in boreholes and groundwater sampling campaigns. First data and interpretation will be presented. Future works...
The regional 3D model simulating groundwater flows in the candidate site for the Einstein Telescope in the EMR has been updated to better represent the interactions between the underground environment and the tunnels of the future telescope. The mesh around the tunnels has been refined and the injected zone around the tunnel modelled. The new results in terms of flows to be drained and impacts...
Ultrasound transmission measurements on core samples done at Delft University are presented. These measurements include CT-scans of plugs and the matrix density was determined with a pycnometer. Most of the samples are from ETB boreholes, but a few are also from the DZA01 borehole close to Cunnewitz, i.e. Lausitz. (Abstract to be updated later).
In November 2024, the ET-EMR noise characterization team conducted a passive seismic survey in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (EMR) region, focusing on the area surrounding the Terziet broadband seismic stations (NL.TERZ) at both surface level and a depth of 250 meters. The primary objective of this survey was to identify and characterize the dominant seismic noise sources in the region.
To achieve...
Taking the experience from the 2022 drilling and seismic acquisition campaign on board the subsurface team of the EMR-regions devised a second data acquisition program that was executed from Q2 2024 to Q1 2025. The purpose of the campaign was to enable the construction of a 3D integrated subsurface model in support of civil engineering, and hydrogeological as well as seismic noise modelling....
The Einstein Telescope (ET) project, a significant leap in gravitational wave observatories, demands an exceptionally stable environment to minimise seismic noise. To ensure the most suitable site selection, we conducted a meticulous ground motion analysis, integrating historical and recent instrumental earthquakes relevant to the area. By utilising ShakeMaps and severe ground motion...
We present the results of three temporary deployments of seismic arrays, installed in two vertices of a possible configuration of ET in the area of the Italian candidate site (Sardinia). The experiments, aimed at investigating the local noise sources and the seismic velocity structure, were carried out in 2021 and 2024 with different geometrical layouts, number of sensors and total recording...
A designated area near the Sos Enattos mine (Lula, Nuoro Province, Sardinia, Italy) has been proposed as a candidate site for the Einstein Telescope (ET), a next-generation gravitational wave observatory requiring an exceptionally low-noise environment. To assess infrasound conditions relevant to ET, a set of infrasound microphones was installed at Sos Enattos, both on the surface and...
The Einstein Telescope (ET) is a proposed next-generation underground gravitational-wave detector in Europe, anticipated to enhance sensitivity by an order of magnitude compared to existing detectors while extending the observation band down to frequencies as low as 2 Hz. A thorough site characterization is critical for ET, considering geological, hydrogeological, and geotechnical conditions....
The Sardinian site, identified for the underground Einstein Telescope (ET) gravitational wave observatory, features a complex morphology with distinctive geological characteristics typical of stable crystalline basements. The area is also marked by deeply incised valleys, underscoring the need for a detailed and comprehensive understanding of the territory to support site assessment and risk...
Between March 2024 and January 2025, 11 boreholes got cored between 250 - 400 m depth. The total cored depth amounted to about 3600 meters. Four boreholes were finalized as a deep seismometer station, the others as deep piรซzometer stations. The subsurface team is still analysing the results of the boreholes and existing geophysical data. Some preliminary findings about the geological...
The Einstein Telescope (ET) will be Europe's next-generation underground interferometric gravitational wave detector. The extreme target sensitivity that these detectors should attain requires underground placement to shield the apparatuses from the ambient noise. A quiet environment in a geologically stable area away from major faults and industrial activities also helps to maximise the duty...
We present the results of a gravimetric study conducted in the Sos Enattos mining site (northeastern Sardinia), an area identified as the Italian site for the potential underground installation of the Einstein Telescope (ET), a third-generation gravitational wave detector.
Currently, the ET project is in its preparatory phase, with efforts focused on performing feasibility studies for...
The de-risking of the geologic structures in the EMR is a crucial step in the preparation of the Einstein Telescope. Alongside active seismic and gravimetry, Deep Electric Resistivity Tomography surveys are a key instrument to identify and characterize large structures in the subsurface.
We present the geologic interpretation of a Deep ERT profile in Val Dieu, Belgium crossing the Booze...
We present an evaluation of how site dependent noise can affect the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of compact binary coalescence (CBC) signals in the future 3rd generation gravitational wave (GW) detector Einstein Telescope (ET). The design of ET is currently pushing the scientific community to study its scientific potential with respect to known, and possibly unexpected, GW signals using its...
Newtonian noise (NN), arising from local density fluctuations due to seismic activities will limit the sensitivity of next-generation gravitational wave detectors at low frequencies. This study explores deep learning models as non-linear algorithms to predict and cancel NN.
As a preliminary experiment prior to obtaining Einstein Telescope data, we utilise data from the Virgo detector, which...
Limburg, a region located in the cross-border area between The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany is the Euregio-Meuse-Rhine candidate site for hosting the Einstein Telescope. Recent studies to investigate the siteโs subsurface suitability for hosting Einstein Telescope has seen several boreholes being drilled and deployment of arrays of geophones on the surface. In this study we present a 3D...
Modeling seismic waves to Newtonian Noise is of critical importance to understand the impact on the instrument of residual noise at the vertices of ET. The models that currently exist are considered not sufficiently sophisticated to appropriately take into account the layered structural geology in the EMR region. Plans and deliverables are presented to develop the required models to resolve...
The Lausitz is the third potential site to host the Einstein Telescope (ET). Site characterization is in progress since late 2023 based on the ongoing survey for a planned underground laboratory โLow Seismic Labโ (LSL). The LSL will be a central part of the Deutsche Zentrum fรผr Astrophysik (DZA, German Center for Astrophysics) which is currently being established. Site requirements for the LSL...
