PhD Defence Andrei Utina

"Instrumentation and characterization techniques for advanced gravitational-wave observatories"

Andrei Utina looked into several key areas of detecting gravitational waves - ripples in the fabric of space and time first predicted by Einstein in his general theory of relativity.

His research explores how to control mirrors in gravitational-wave detectors (like LIGO and Virgo), which need extremely precise positioning to work properly. It also looks at a new testing facility called ETpathfinder built in Maastricht, which helps develop next-generation detection technology.

A major focus is on the Einstein Telescope, a future detector that will operate at extremely cold temperatures (below -250°C). The research examines how to cool the equipment without creating unwanted vibrations that could interfere with measurements.

Finally, the thesis explores using artificial intelligence and computer vision to help align the detector's mirrors automatically - a task usually done manually by experts. This could make the process much faster and more efficient.

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