LIGO project in Hingoli to give India global scientific identity: Atomic Energy Commission chair

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The ambitious Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)-India project being developed in Hingoli district is set to give the country a distinct identity on the global scientific stage, said Atomic Energy Commission chairman Ajit Kumar Mohanty.He was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the civil and vacuum infrastructure works of the project at Dudhala village in Hingoli's Aundha taluka on Thursday. Mohanty, who is also secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, described the project as a landmark initiative that will significantly strengthen India's position in advanced scientific research."By making a major investment in constructing the LIGO-India Observatory, India is not only enhancing our ability to detect, locate, and identify high energy cosmic collisions, it is positioning itself as a world leader in one of the most exciting frontiers of astrophysics," said David Reitze, the executive director of LIGO and a research professor of physics at Caltech, in a statement.The event also marked the inauguration of the project's site office building. The LIGO-India project is a state-of-the-art scientific facility aimed at detecting and studying gravitational waves, which are minute disturbances in spacetime generated by massive cosmic events such as the collision of black holes or neutron stars. These waves provide crucial insights into the origins and structure of the universe.The observatory will sit on a 174-acre site selected for its low seismic noise to reduce vibrations that could interfere with the detection of gravitational-wave signals. It will be identical in design to the LIGO detectors in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana.As part of the project, two underground tunnels of approximately 4km each will be constructed in an ‘L' shape. The tunnels will house highly sophisticated laser-based instruments capable of measuring incredibly small vibrations. The system will operate under ultra-high vacuum conditions to ensure precise detection by eliminating environmental interference.The project is being jointly implemented by the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology, with collaboration from leading international research organisations. Once completed, it is expected to place India among a select group of countries engaged in cutting-edge gravitational wave research.Officials said the facility would also boost scientific collaboration, technological innovation and skill development in the country.Collector Rahul Gupta presented Hingoli's famed "yellow gold" turmeric to the chief guest at the event on Thursday, highlighting the district's unique agricultural identity. Among the dignitaries present were superintendent of police Nilabh Rohan and senior officials K Mahapatra, V P Bhanage, Dr Tapas Ganguli and R Srianand, representing key scientific institutions associated with the project.