ILIAS: Integrated Large Infrastructures for Astroparticle Science

Project Summary

ILIAS is an Integrated Infrastructure Initiative that has pulled together all of Europe’s leading infrastructures in Astroparticle Physics to produce a focused, coherent and integrated project to improve the existing infrastructures and their operation as well as to organise and structure the scientific community to prepare the best infrastructures for the future.
ILIAS results from an extensive consultation of the community and an internal review process through the Astroparticle Physics European Co-ordination (ApPEC).
ILIAS has 20 participants. In addition, there are numerous institutions that will contribute to the activities of ILIAS (but are not signatories to the contract).
ILIAS will strengthen the new coordination by focusing on the following three scientific poles:

• Physics in deep underground laboratories
• Gravitational wave detection
• Theoretical astroparticle physics

ILIAS GW detection Activities

• Gravitational Wave Antenna (N5/GWA)
  The objective of this network is to increase the level of coordination in the field of gravitational wave research. It aims at linking the theoreticians and the groups working on the experimental detection using the two large European interferometers and the three resonant cryogenic detectors.
• Study of Thermal Noise Reduction in Gravitational Wave Detectors (JRA3/STREGA)
  The aim is a ten-fold reduction of thermal noise using new materials, new cryogenic techniques and studying fundamental noise mechanisms.