Lok Sabha Question No. 2074 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-04
Subject: LIGO Project
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shantanu Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2074

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.03.2020

## LIGO PROJECT

## 2074.     SHRI SHANTANU THAKUR:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitation-Wave Observatory) helps to detect and analyse the information of gravitational waves that are caused by exploding stars, black holes, etc.;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether LIGO India Project is multidisciplinary in nature and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the details of the infrastructure that is likely to be set up to host the ambitious LIGO project; and
- (e) whether  this  project  in  India  is  likely  to  serve  as  a  focal  point  to  inspire students and young scientists and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) The LIGO detector is capable of detecting gravitational waves produced during the merger of binary black holes, binary neutron stars, merger of a neutron star with a black holes, etc. The scientific goals of the project are:-
- 1)    to study gravitational radiation as a fundamental physical phenomenon.
- 2)   to use gravitational radiation to observe the astrophysical universe. The technical  goals include:-  a)  to  construct  and  operate  an  international network of advanced gravitational wave observatories. b) to develop the technical and scientific capabilities necessary for such sensitive measurements,  including  industrial  capacity  for  making  such  sensitive instruments.

- (c) Yes, Sir. The project is multidisciplinary in nature. This project gives opportunity  to  scientific  community  to  participate  in  gravitational  detector development, observations and data analysis. For construction of civil infrastructure, Directorate of Construction Services and Estate Management (a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy) has assumed the responsibility.  It  involves  designing  the  buildings  to  isolate  the  interferometer from ambient disturbances. Architects and Civil Engineers are involved for this. The Institute for Plasma Research, Ahmedabad has assumed the responsibility  of  building  vacuum  chambers,  which  are  4  kms  long  on  either side (i.e. totally 8 kms). It involves Mechanical and Electronic Engineers.  Raja Ramanna  Centre  for  Advanced  Technology  (RRCAT),  Indore  (a  constituent unit of DAE) has assumed the responsibility of laser development and building the entire laser systems. Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics,  Pune  will  be  responsible  for  science  run,  taking  data  and analysing the same.
- (d) The Project requires identification, acquisition and development of a seismically low noise site, followed by construction of the civil facility required for housing the 4 km arm length Interferometer detector suitably designed to address  all  the  vibration  sources  such  as  pumps,  fans,  High  Voltage  Air Conditioners etc. The scope of work also involves fabrication and installation of large  vacuum  chambers,  Liquid  Nitrogen  cryo-pumps  etc.  with  the  required quality control and contamination control to achieve ultra-high vacuum suitable for installation of the detector.
- (e) Yes, Sir. Indian scientists and engineers, both inside and outside of the LIGOIndia Project, can participate in the scientific and technical activities of LIGOIndia and the LIGO Global Network. It will inspire students as well as young scientists  and  give  them  opportunity  to  participate  in  the  gravitational  wave detector and other equipment and electronics development, observations, and data analysis.

******