The activities will begin in the early months of 2026 and will allow an assessment of the suitability of the area to host the gravitational wave observatory.
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) approved the establishment of the Center for Geophysical Characterization for the Einstein Telescope (CCGET), a new facility dedicated to the in-depth study of Sardinia's subsoil. With its construction INGV aims to consolidate its scientific contribution to the Italian candidacy to build the Einstein Telescope (ET) gravitational wave observatory in the area of the disused mine of Sos Enattos, in the province of Nuoro.
From early 2026, the Center will be responsible for coordinating and planning the various geophysical characterization activities planned to complement the studies supporting the Sardinian site's nomination. Among these, an electromagnetic survey will be highlighted, which will provide a high-definition three-dimensional map of the entire area that could accommodate the underground infrastructure. The survey will be conducted using a helicopter equipped with a large antenna that will fly over the area at a height of a few dozen meters and direct electromagnetic waves toward the ground. The currents induced in the subsurface will provide detailed information on the composition of the rocks, the degree of fracturing, and the possible presence of fluids. The operations will be completed before the summer and, following the processing of the collected data, further geophysical campaigns will be planned to investigate any critical issues.
The new Center, coordinated by INGV researcher Carlo Giunchi, will last three years, dependent on the achievement of its objectives and the outcome of the selection of the site for the new observatory. It will work in close collaboration with the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), Sardinian universities, and the local government of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. Furthermore, it will strengthen the INGV's contribution to the international ET collaboration, encouraging the participation of its researchers in the development of scientific products and services. Finally, it will conduct communication, training, and dissemination activities on the contribution of geophysical surveys not only to the ET project but also to improving knowledge of the Sardinian territory within the complex geological and geodynamic landscape that characterizes the Italian peninsula.
INGV has been involved in the Sardinian site since 2019 and, more recently, has operated within the framework of FABER activities (Far fault obsERvatory), part of the larger PNRR MEET project (Monitoring Earth's Evolution and Tectonics) of which the Institute is the leader. On February 9, 2023, the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) established, by decree of Minister Anna Maria Bernini, a high-profile Technical-Scientific Committee to support the Italian candidacy, chaired by Nobel Prize winner in Physics Giorgio Parisi.
Link to evaluate:
National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV)
Ministry of University and Research (MUR)
Autonomous Region of Sardinia (RAS)
National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN)
National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF)
