Gravitational Waves and Fundamental Physics
The recent discoveries of gravitational waves by LIGO/Virgo interferometers and of Higgs boson by LHC taught us about the internal workings of the universe more than any other scientific discovery in the preceding decades. Yet more questions arose than we got answers to. Research at GWFP is targeted at finding answers to those fundamental questions.
Fast facts
- Established in 2019
- Focus on gravitational-wave (GW) interferometry and particle physics research
- Part of GW astronomy collaborations: LIGO, Virgo and Einstein Telescope
- Part of the LHCb collaboration (CERN)
- Home to ETpathfinder, the unique cryogenic test facility for Einstein Telescope
We develop new technologies for the next generation European gravitational-wave detector Einstein Telescope, designed to observe the whole Universe in GW spectrum. Gravitational waves are ripples on the fabric of space-time born in catastrophic collisions of the most massive and densest objects in the universe, the black holes and neutron stars.
To detect these tiny ripples, Einstein Telescope, the Europe’s next generation GW observatory will be built, and our group is working on a range of advanced technologies to make this reality. Maastricht University is a home for the unique experimental facility, the ET Pathfinder that will become a testbed for a range of groundbreaking cryogenic and quantum technologies to be used in the ET.
We try to understand the workings of the universe on a particle level. The LHCb experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN aims to study the forces of nature - electromagnetic, strong and weak - at the smallest scales and highest energies. Especially in the early universe, right after the big bang, new particles and forces could have had a dramatic impact on the way the universe looks and behaves today. At LHCb, we specialize in measuring the matter-antimatter differences in heavy particles, called CP-violation, and making precision studies of the effects that potential new particles or forces have in very rare particle decays, through so-called quantum loops.
In Maastricht we contribute to the physics analyses, the operation of the detector at the LHC, and to the algorithms used to reconstruct physics from our data. To face the future challenges of the large amounts of data produced by the particle collisions, we study the applications of machine learning, the use of graphics processing units in high-performance computing, and explore the potential that quantum computing can offer.
News
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Alessandro Bertolini, an experimental physicist, will be appointed endowed professor of Gravitational Wave Detection Technologies at Maastricht University on September 1. Bertolini is a world-renowned expert in vibration isolation research. His task will be to keep the mirrors of the Einstein...
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Keri Vos (Maastricht University/Nikhef) has received an NWO Vidi grant for her work on precision studies of heavy ‘beauty’ particles, NWO announced on Thursday. These studies can help solve the mystery of the missing antimatter in the universe.
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On May 9th, the NWO awarded €2.7 million to improve the Advanced Virgo gravity wave detector in Pisa. Maastricht University will take part in this initiative, which will be led by the Dutch National Institute for Subatomic Physics (Nikhef).
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Vice president of the European Commission visits ET Pathfinder.
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In a recent article in the Journal of High Energy Physics (JHEP), the LHCb collaboration reports the application of Quantum Machine Learning for identifying properties of so-called jets: streams of particles that result from particle collisions.
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The Einstein Telescope will definitely receive 42 million euros from the National Growth Fund. The government previously granted the amount subject to conditions. With the definitive allocation, the preparatory work can continue.
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"In order to get a good idea, you will have to hear a lot of good ideas." The words of Netherlands Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf speaking at the end of his working visit to Maastricht on 23 May. Professor Dijkgraaf visited Vista College, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences and Maastricht...
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Het kabinetsbesluit over het toekennen van financiering vanuit het Nationaal Groeifonds biedt perspectief voor het verder ontwikkelen van de kennis- en innovatiekracht in Limburg.
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Maastricht University, Nikhef, CERN and SURF will address some specific challenges for the LHCb experiment in order to determine which elements of the data analysis chains are best suited for a quantum computing approach.
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Lex Greeven, PhD candidate at the department for Gravitational Wave and Fundamental Physics wins poster prize at NWO Physics@Veldhoven
