European Gravitational Observatory

The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) is a consortium set up by the French Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) and the Italian Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in order to ensure the long term scientific exploitation of the VIRGO interferometric antenna for gravitational waves (GW) detection, the largest GW detector in Europe, as well as to foster European collaboration in this upcoming field. It is located in the countryside near Pisa in the Comune of Cascina. EGO pursues these main objectives: - ensure the commissioning of the VIRGO antenna for gravitational waves, its operation, maintenance and upgrades; the Virgo GW detector is now in its Advanced phase and to its upgrade are collaborating also Dutch, Hungarian and Polish research institutions. - create and run a computing center for the data analysis; - ensure the maintenance of the site and its related infrastructures; - promote R&D activities useful for the detection of gravitational wa...