SPACE-ECHO consortium develops ultra-precise mirrors for gravitational wave detection
In the Optics technology domain, six Dutch companies and knowledge institutes are collaborating in the SPACE-ECHO consortium on groundbreaking innovation: ultra-precise mirrors for the Einstein Telescope, Europe’s most advanced gravitational wave observatory.
The Einstein Telescope will detect gravitational waves deep underground — ripples in spacetime caused by cosmic events like colliding black holes. This requires mirrors so flat and stable that they remain undisturbed under extreme conditions. The technical challenge is immense: atomic-level polishing, and reliable performance at -250 degrees Celsius.
The SPACE-ECHO consortium, coordinated by cosine innovations and including partners such as TNO, NOVA, SRON, VSL and Maastricht University, combines expertise to achieve this. They are testing various polishing methods for crystalline silicon — a material that outperforms silica at cryogenic temperatures — and are developing new instruments to characterize the mirror surfaces.
“Globally, there's limited experience with silicon mirrors for such advanced applications,” says Boris Landgraf of cosine innovations. “We are investigating different fabrication approaches and how they perform under extreme conditions.”
In addition to mirror production, the consortium focuses on coatings, reflectivity, and techniques to fuse smaller mirror components into one seamless optical surface — all while maintaining high performance.
This R&D effort is part of the Einstein Telescope for business program, supported by the Dutch National Growth Fund. Regional development agency LIOF leads the national effort, working with the Ministries of Economic Affairs and Education, and research institute Nikhef. Regional service points at BOM, InnovationQuarter and Oost NL further strengthen the national collaboration.
The consortium’s work could also benefit other sectors, including space telescopes, the semiconductor industry, and materials science.
The Einstein Telescope itself is still in preparation. The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are jointly exploring a site in the border region. A decision on the final location is expected in 2026 or 2027.
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