Clean area and vacuum enclosure for a new bench of Advanced Virgo (January 2016)

The researchers are preparing the optical bench to be inserted inside the vacuum enclosure and suspended to the mechanical attenuator on top of the enclosure, called minitower. A clean area has been built around the minitower to keep the optical elements out of dust.

Credits: Cyril Frésillon/Virgo/Photothèque CNRS

Album: Instruments – Laser&Optics

Tags: #Advanced Virgo #minitower #Optical bench #installation

Superattenuators are used to suspend the main interferometer mirrors and benches to isolate them from the seismic ground vibrations. Here, a superattenuator, surrounded by a scaffolding, is being installed. The attenuator is then enclose in a vacuum tower.

Credits: Cyril Frésillon/Virgo/Photothèque CNRS

Album: Instruments – Payloads/Suspensions/Mirrors

Tags: #Virgo #superattenuator #scaffolding #installation