Installation of a worldwide unique technology in the German-British gravitational wave observatory GEO600 is documented in a video diary

The first series will start on 06.16.2009 at 11 a.m. during the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) Launch Luncheon, Wissenschaftsforum Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany presented by the President of the DFG, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Kleiner

Albert Einstein Institute (AEI) Hannover

At the Albert Einstein Institute in Hannover, the Max Planck Society and the Leibniz Universität Hannover together pursue experimental gravitational wave research. This includes basic research, as well as applied research in the fields of laser physics, vacuum technology, vibration insulation, as well as classical optics and quantum optics. Further research focuses on the development and realization of algorithms for data analysis involving various types of sources for gravitational radiation. Together with the theoretical part of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics located in Potsdam, the Albert Einstein Institute constitutes a unique centre for gravitational physics, in that it covers all aspects thereof.

Together with British research institutes, the AEI Hannover is operating the Gravitational Wave Detector GEO600 in Ruthe near Hannover. The Institute's scientists are also involved in LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), the planned gravitational wave detector in space. This joint project of NASA and ESA will be measuring gravitational waves in space from 2021 onwards and will, for the first time, be able to "hear" more deeply into space than ever before.

The Hannover QUEST Excellence Cluster

In the context of the Quest Excellence Cluster, six Institutes of the Leibniz Universität Hannover and five other research institutions from Lower Saxony and Bremen are carrying out unique research on the quantum limit. The aim of this scientific work is to answer very fundamental questions of physics - including the nature of the structure and fundamental forces of our universe. With unprecedented precision, QUEST scientists will use their new measurement technologies to explore physical phenomena that are not yet understood. Research is being pursued on individual atoms, atom interferometers, atomic quantum sensors, lasers and atomic clocks, as well as in the astronomy of gravitational waves and in the area of earth observation and geodesy.

The Scientific institutions involved in QUEST are:

•     Leibniz Universität Hannover

      Institute of Quantum Optics (IQ)

      Institute of Gravitational Physics (IGP)

      Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITP)

      Institute of Solid State Physics (IFKP)

      Institute of Soil Surveying (IFE)

      Institute for Applied Mathematics (IFAM)

•     Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute/AEI), Hannover

•     Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH), Hanover

•     Gravity wave detector GEO600, Ruthe

•     Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig

•     Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM), Bremen