- Virgo (astrology), an astrological sign
- Virgo (band), a musical project between Andre Matos and Sascha Paeth
- Virgo (constellation), a constellation
- Virgo (mobile suit), a mobile suit from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
- Virgo interferometer, a French-Italian project in physics
- Virgo Stellar Stream, remains of a dwarf galaxy
- Virgo Supercluster, a galactic supercluster
- Virgos Merlot, an American rock band
- Clement Virgo, a Canadian film and television director
- John Virgo, a snooker player
- SuperStar Virgo, a mega cruise ship operated and owned by Star Cruises
- USS Virgo (AKA-20), a United States Navy attack cargo ship
- Virgo (comics), a Marvel Comics character
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Last updated on Tuesday September 23, 2008 at 07:19:41 PDT (GMT -0700)
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The frequency range of Virgo extends from 10 to 10 000 Hz. This range as well as the very high sensitivity should allow detection of gravitational radiation produced by supernovae and coalescence of binary systems in the Milky Way and in outer galaxies, for instance from the Virgo cluster.
In order to reach the extreme sensitivity required, the whole interferometer attains optical perfection and is extremely well isolated from the rest of the world in order to be only sensitive to the gravitational waves. To achieve it, Italian and French scientists involved in the project, have developed most advanced techniques in the field of high power ultrastable lasers, high reflectivity mirrors, seismic isolation and position and alignment control.
In the field of optics, Virgo uses a new generation of ultrastable lasers, and the most stable oscillator ever built. A specific optical coating facility has been built to produce extremely high quality mirrors combining the highest reflectivity (over 99,999 %), with nanometer surface control.
To avoid spurious motions of the optical components due to seismic noise; each one of them is isolated by a 10 m high, very elaborate system of compound pendulums. Because the presence of a residual gas would slightly perturb the measurements the light beam must propagate under ultra high vacuum. The two tubes, 3 km long and 1.2 m diameter each are actually the largest ultra high vacuum vessels in Europe and the second largest in the world. The environment of the Virgo interferometer is quieter than that of a spacecraft orbiting the earth.
Virgo, the construction of which was completed in June 2003, started its first science run in May 2007 and it is currently running day and night listening to all gravitational signals which may arrive at any time and coming from any part of the Universe. The signals are detected, recorded and pre-analysed through an on-line computing system. These data will then be made available to the scientific community for further analysis.
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Last updated on Monday September 29, 2008 at 09:45:44 PDT (GMT -0700)
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