Listen to gravity waves The world’s largest KAGRA sapphire mirror
The gravity wave telescope KAGRA in a huge space 200m underground at the Kamioka Mine in Gifu Pref.
Gravity wave telescope KAGRA completed: Research agreement with US LIGO and European Virgo
October 4,
The University of Tokyo: “KAGRA”
Completion ceremony of the gravity wave telescope KAGRA was held in the KAGRA mine.
Kagura by “Kagura-shachu” in Kamioka-cho, Hida City is performed.
The name “KAGRA”:
Kamioka initial “KA”,
Combined with “GRA” of “Gravitational Wave” representing gravity wave,
Research agreement: US LIGO, Europe Virgo
Subsequently, a research agreement was signed with the US gravity wave telescope LIGO and the European Virgo.
KAGRA will participate in the international gravitational wave observation network and will start observation within the year.
Black hole: Observing gravity waves
Black holes are celestial bodies with huge mass.
When this celestial body moves, the space-time (time and space) is distorted and transmitted as gravity waves.
The gravitational wave telescope is a device for observing gravitational waves due to space-time distortion.
It is expected to lead to elucidation of the phenomenon of the moment of the birth of a black hole and the growth of galaxies.
KAGRA: Major features
KAGRA has major features not found in other gravity wave telescopes.
First, it must be installed underground
Have the world’s largest sapphire mirror cooled to minus 253 ℃.
These are pioneering technologies that other telescopes are considering introducing in the future.
Why sapphire in the telescope?
KAGRA quickly challenged and adopted advanced technology.
To reduce the noise, it is necessary to cool the mirror and freeze the movement.
However, the mirror has a very poor thermal conductivity and cannot be cooled easily.
Therefore, KAGRA uses sapphire (other gravity wave telescopes use synthetic quartz).
Sapphire is as heat conductive as copper and aluminum and is easy to cool.
We tried to develop a new material.
JBpress（Japan Business Press）