AIGO
Encyclopedia
The Australian International Gravitational Observatory is a research facility located near Gingin, north of Perth
in Western Australia
. It is part of a worldwide effort to directly detect gravitational waves.
It is operated by the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre (AIGRC) through the University of Western Australia
under the auspices of the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy (ACIGA).
The current aim of the facility is to develop advanced techniques for improving the sensitivity of interferometric gravitational wave
detectors such as LIGO
and VIRGO
. A study of operational interferometric gravitational wave detectors shows that AIGO is situated in almost the ideal location to complement the existing array.
and the Gingin Observatory
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It is part of a worldwide effort to directly detect gravitational waves.
It is operated by the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre (AIGRC) through the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
under the auspices of the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy (ACIGA).
The current aim of the facility is to develop advanced techniques for improving the sensitivity of interferometric gravitational wave
Gravitational wave
In physics, gravitational waves are theoretical ripples in the curvature of spacetime which propagates as a wave, traveling outward from the source. Predicted to exist by Albert Einstein in 1916 on the basis of his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves theoretically transport energy as...
detectors such as LIGO
LIGO
LIGO, which stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, is a large-scale physics experiment aiming to directly detect gravitational waves. Cofounded in 1992 by Kip Thorne and Ronald Drever of Caltech and Rainer Weiss of MIT, LIGO is a joint project between scientists at MIT,...
and VIRGO
Virgo
-Astronomy:* Virgo Cluster, a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Virgo* Virgo , a constellation* Virgo Stellar Stream, remains of a dwarf galaxy* Virgo Supercluster, a galactic supercluster-Surname:* Virgo...
. A study of operational interferometric gravitational wave detectors shows that AIGO is situated in almost the ideal location to complement the existing array.
LIGO-Australia
It is the proposed location of the LIGO-Australia project.Educational Facilities
It is also on the same grounds the the Gravity Discovery CenterGravity Discovery Centre
The Gravity Discovery Centre is a "hands-on" science education centre, situated on the site of the Australian International Gravitational Observatory, near Gingin, north of Perth, Western Australia....
and the Gingin Observatory