CLIO


CLIO is the Cryogenic Laser Interferometer Observatory, a prototype detector for gravitational waves. It is testing cryogenic mirror technologies for the future Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector. It is located in Japan.

Overview

CLIO is an optical interferometer with two perpendicular arms each of 100 m length. The mirrors are cooled to ; this reduces various thermal noise sources which trouble other gravity observatories, but cooling the mirrors while keeping them isolated from vibrations is difficult.
CLIO is situated 1000 m underground in the Kamioka Observatory, Gifu Prefecture.
CLIO is one of the science facilities for physics of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research of the University of Tokyo.