PuK - Process Technology & Components 2024

Vacuum technology
Vacuum systems
05A20GU5 & 05A23GU5). After successful
demonstration, new methods,
algorithms and sensors can be
integrated into larger prototypes [8,
9] and finally into current and future
detectors. The goal is to improve the
detection of gravitational waves, especially
at low frequencies. Since
most signals enter the measurement
band at low frequencies, such
improvements can, among other
things, increase the observation time
enormously. In the long run, it should
be possible to detect the signals of
merging black holes many minutes
before the event and thus determine
the position of the objects. Then
other telescopes can point in that direction
and “check” for electromagnetic
traces of such events, which in
turn allows us to better understand
the physics of such objects.
References
Fig. 3: Oil-free multistage Roots pumps ACP 40
3050 l/s for nitrogen. The magnetic
bearing enables low-vibration evacuation
of the volume. When connecting
the individual pumps to each other,
care was taken to use connecting
elements that reduce vibration transmission.
With the pump system, a vacuum
pressure of approx. 1e-6 mbar
can be achieved in less than 2 h and a
final pressure of < 1e-7 mbar.
During the course of the project,
which lasted just over a year, other
challenges arose in addition to the
technical requirements for the system.
In addition to the ubiquitous
shortages of materials and components
during the pandemic years and
the associated delays, the future site
of the vacuum system was undergoing
reconstruction and expansion.
This meant that not only the realization
of the vacuum system, but also
the coordination of the laboratory
setup was an important task during
the project. The interfaces and contact
points between the vacuum system
and the laboratory extension included
the space requirements. Due
to the existing room height, it was
necessary to harmonize the room
installations, the clean room tent in
which the system would be located,
and the height of the vacuum system.
Other challenges included the
weight of the system and the maximum
floor load capacity, which could
be undercut with floor reinforcements
and additional support plates.
In addition, the final installation of
the system had to take into account
the low passage heights and widths.
However, all challenges were overcome
and the system is now ready
for use by Prof. Gerberding’s team.
Scientists at the University of
Hamburg have now begun to characterize
and optimize the vacuum
chamber and, in particular, the seismic
isolation systems. Many further
investigations and adjustments
will be necessary before the system
reaches its optimal performance -
a process that usually takes several
years. The first experiments to be
performed in and with the chamber
include studies on new methods of
seismic isolation using artificial intelligence
and the characterization
of compact laser interferometers
to be integrated into the pendulum
systems as ultra-precise displacement
sensors [7] (BMBF projects
Einstein, A. (1915). Erklärung der
Perihelbewegung des Merkur aus der
allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie. Sitzungsberichte
der Königlich Preußischen
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Abbott, B. P., Abbott, R., Abbott, T. D.,
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K., ... & Cavalieri, R. (2016). Observation
of gravitational waves from a binary
black hole merger. Physical review
letters, 116(6), 061102.
The LIGO Scientific Collaboration, the
Virgo Collaboration, the KAGRA Collaboration
et al., GWTC-3: Compact
Binary Coalescences Observed by
LIGO and Virgo During the Se cond
Part of the Third Observing Run, General
Rela tivitry and Quantum Cosmology
(gr-qc), 2021, https://doi.
org/10.48550/arXiv.2111.03606
Saulson, P. R. (1994). Fundamentals of
interferometric gravitational wave detectors.
Punturo, M., Abernathy, M., Acernese,
F., Allen, B., Andersson, N., Arun, K., ...
& Yamamoto, K. (2010). The Einstein
Telescope: a third-generation gravitational
wave observatory. Classical and
Quantum Gravity, 27(19), 194002.
Matichard, F., Lantz, B., Mittleman,
R., Mason, K., Kissel, J., Abbott, B., ...
& Wen, S. (2015). Seismic isolation of
Advanced LIGO: Review of strategy,
44 PROCESS TECHNOLOGY & COMPONENTS 2024