ProjectGraWiton
Putting Europe at the heart of gravitational waves research
Gravitational Wave Initial Training Network (GRAWITON)
"The early-stage researchers of the GraWIToN project were in the right place at the right time, participating in one of the most monumental discoveries in astrophysics: the direct detection of gravitational waves. The GraWIToN experience has enabled them to contribute to the development of this research field with the Einstein Telescope." - Dr. Michele Punturo
Project impact
Only the most sensitive detectors in the world can pick up gravitational waves – ripples in the fabric of spacetime caused by objects accelerating through the universe. The GraWIToN Initial Training Network was training 13 early-career researchers in the field just as a new generation of detectors in Europe and the United States were recording the first ever gravitational wave signals, which came from two black holes colliding with each other and another colliding pair of neutron stars. As a result, some of the young scientists had the opportunity to participate in this ground-breaking discovery, which was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2017. The GraWIToN project meant that a new generation of European researchers is perfectly placed to push forward the development of the Einstein Telescope, a planned European ground-based gravitational-wave observatory which will be at least 10 times more sensitive than current detectors. The scientists who participated in GraWIToN are also helping to shape the development of the ESA/NASA LISA mission to put the first ever gravitational wave detector into space.
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Coordinator
Italy
European Gravitational Observatory EGO
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Participating and partners countries
- France
- Boostec SA
- Germany
- LZH Laserzentrum Hannover EV
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften EV
- Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare
- Universita di Pisa
- United Kingdom
- Gooch & Housego
- The University of Birmingham
- University of Glasgow
- France