UHV.NRW - New Paths in Ultrahigh Vacuum Technology

Gravitational waves from colliding black holes, exploding stars, or possibly even from the dark ages of the universe provide unique insights into the evolution of our cosmos. Following the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017, the scientific community is now planning the next generation of even more sensitive observations. The so-called “Einstein Telescope” (ET) represents Europe’s future in gravitational wave detection and may be constructed in the Euregio region. Gravitational waves are detected using laser interferometers based on the Michelson interferometer principle. To prevent interactions between the laser beams and air or residual gases, the beams will propagate through ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) tubes with a diameter of approximately 1 m. In total, the facility will include around 120 km of these tubes, making it by far the largest UHV system ever built.

Ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems play a crucial role in experimental physics and engineering applications, such as the Einstein Telescope (ET). In these systems, even minor leaks can affect measurement precision, while major leaks can cause severe damage. Sudden large leaks generate pressure fronts that can propagate through tubes at speed up to 1000 ms⁻¹, posing a significant threat to components such as baffles, mirrors, and vacuum pipes. To mitigate these risks, mechanical fast shutters are often implemented to isolate and protect sensitive parts of the system. The objective of this project is to design a fast shutter system for sudden leakages to protect the ET componentes.

In addition, the fast shutter mechanism must operate within milliseconds, requiring optimized actuation systems (e.g., pneumatic or electromagnetic) capable of overcoming inertia without inducing excessive vibration or mechanical stress. Maintaining alignment and minimizing particle generation during repeated cycles is critical, as contamination can degrade vacuum performance and sensitive downstream processes.

_{Thumbnail © Marco Kraan, Nikhef}