TAMA 300 is a
gravitational wave detector
A gravitational-wave detector (used in a gravitational-wave observatory) is any device designed to measure tiny distortions of spacetime called gravitational waves. Since the 1960s, various kinds of gravitational-wave detectors have been built ...
located at the Mitaka campus of the
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.
It is a project of the
gravitational wave studies group at the
Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR) of the
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as or UTokyo, is a public research university located in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan. Established in 1877, the university was the first Imperial University and is currently a Top Type university of the Top Global University Project b ...
. The ICRR was established in 1976 for cosmic ray studies, and is currently developing the
Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector (KAGRA).
TAMA 300 was preceded in Mitaka by a 20m prototype TAMA 20 in years 1991-1994. Later the prototype was moved underground to Kamioka mine and renamed LISM. It operated 2000-2002 and established seismic quietness of the underground location.
Construction of the TAMA project started in 1995. Data were collected from 1999 to 2004. It adopted a
Fabry–Pérot Michelson interferometer
The Michelson interferometer is a common configuration for optical interferometry and was invented by the 19/20th-century American physicist Albert Abraham Michelson. Using a beam splitter, a light source is split into two arms. Each of those ...
(FPMI) with power recycling. It is officially known as the 300m Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Antenna due to having 300 meter long (optical) arms.
The goal of the project was to develop advanced techniques needed for a future kilometer sized interferometer and to detect gravitational waves that may occur by chance within the
Local Group
The Local Group is the galaxy group that includes the Milky Way.
It has a total diameter of roughly , and a total mass of the order of .
It consists of two collections of galaxies in a "dumbbell" shape: the Milky Way and its satellites form ...
.
Observation of TAMA has been terminated, and work moved to the 100 m
Cryogenic Laser Interferometer Observatory (CLIO) prototype in
Kamioka mine.
As of 2020, modified TAMA 300 is used as a testbed to develop new technologies.
See also
*
CLIO
In Greek mythology, Clio ( , ; el, Κλειώ), also spelled Kleio, is the muse of history, or in a few mythological accounts, the muse of lyre playing.
Etymology
Clio's name is etymologically derived from the Greek root κλέω/κλεί ...
, a prototype
interferometric gravitational wave detector
A gravitational-wave detector (used in a gravitational-wave observatory) is any device designed to measure tiny distortions of spacetime called gravitational waves. Since the 1960s, various kinds of gravitational-wave detectors have been built ...
operating in Japan.
*
KAGRA, a state-of-the-art interferometric gravitational wave detector under development in Japan
References
Interferometers
Gravitational-wave telescopes
Astronomical observatories in Japan
University of Tokyo
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