Virgo interferometer

Virgo is a large laser interferometer near Pisa, Italy, that detects gravitational waves by measuring changes in the distances between suspended mirrors.

Michelson interferometer: An optical instrument that measures differences in light-path length by recombining beams sent along separate arms. Virgo uses this interferometer design to turn arm-length changes into shifts in the recombined light.
Gravitational-wave astronomy: The study of astronomical sources through gravitational waves emitted by accelerating masses. Virgo is one of the observatories that makes this form of astronomy possible.
Virgo Collaboration: The European scientific collaboration that builds and operates the Virgo gravitational-wave detector. The collaboration coordinates Virgo's instrument development, observations, and scientific analyses.
GEO600: A German 600-meter laser interferometer built to test advanced gravitational-wave detector technologies. GEO600 is much shorter than Virgo and has served chiefly as a technology testbed.
Fabry–Pérot interferometer: An optical cavity formed by two facing mirrors that makes light traverse the space between them repeatedly. Fabry–Pérot cavities lengthen Virgo's effective optical paths without requiring proportionally longer arms.
LIGO: A United States observatory network of laser interferometers that detects gravitational waves. LIGO and Virgo combine observations to strengthen detections and improve source localization.
Alain Brillet: A French physicist and gravitational-wave researcher who helped initiate the Virgo project. Brillet was among the scientists who drove Virgo's development as a European detector.
Einstein Telescope: A proposed third-generation European gravitational-wave observatory with underground, cryogenic detector infrastructure. The planned Einstein Telescope would surpass Virgo's sensitivity through a new underground design.
Laser: A light source that produces a coherent, narrow beam through stimulated emission. Virgo's laser supplies the coherent light whose interference reveals changes in the arms.
KAGRA: A Japanese underground gravitational-wave observatory with cryogenic test masses. KAGRA joins Virgo and LIGO in the international network of gravitational-wave detectors.

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