WTC 2025 Poster Einstein Telescope by Patricia Lamas

The Einstein Telescope is a 5th-generation interferometer, an instrument capable of measuring gravitational waves which will help the scientific community better understand the complexity of the universe. A competition to win the right to host such a project is currently ongoing, the choice to be made between two different sites, the cross-border region of The Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium (the Euregio Meuse-Rhine region , EMR), or a particular territory in Sardinia, Italy. A feasibility mission has been awarded to the consortium EMC2 to study the technical viability of the planned infrastructure in the EMR. One of the current project’s layout consists of a 30 km tunnel forming a triangle, with large caverns at its vertices to host the facility. This infrastructure will be located underground at around 250 to 300 m depth to ensure the lowest degree of gravitational waves' signal perturbation possible. The design of this unique infrastructure is both as demanding as it is exciting. The scientific requirements for the instrument's operation impose constraints that are not common practice within the tunnelling industry, pushing designers to explore the limits of technical feasibility. Additionally, constructing this infrastructure will have a significant impact on the area. Planning for the construction works will be equally challenging from both constructability and logistics perspectives. Lastly, environmental and social constraints will also add to the difficulties the project will be dealing with. A comprehensive technical assessment will be conducted to ensure the project's feasibility. Our engineers will leverage innovation and inventiveness to enhance the project and prove its technical and financial feasibility. The endeavor to bring the Einstein Telescope to the EMR marks the commencement of a thrilling journey, poised to establish a new benchmark within the tunnelling community.