General information
Subject to sufficient participation, return bus transportation will be provided from Maastricht Central Station to the various excursion locations.
Please note that all times are approximate and subject to change. You will be informed of the final times shortly before the start of each excursion.
Excursion 1
ET Pathfinder – Maastricht (NL)
ET Pathfinder is an R&D infrastructure in Maastricht designed and built for testing and prototyping innovative concepts and enabling technologies for the Einstein Telescope, the first third-generation (3G) laser-interferometric gravitational-wave (GW) observatory.
ET Pathfinder will provide a unique facility to prototype several aspects of the design and technology — such as precision technology, coatings, optics, special measurement and control technology, and seismic isolation — required for the Einstein Telescope, and to test them in an ET-like environment.
The ET Pathfinder collaboration is formed by more than 20 knowledge and research institutions from the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain.
Practical information
- Travel duration: approx. 15 minutes (local transfer within Maastricht)
- Departure from Maastricht Central Station: 09:30 (specific pick-up location to be determined)
- Arrival at location: approx. 09:45
- Start of programme: 10:00
- End of programme: 11:00
- Lunch: not included
- Departure from location: 11:30
- Arrival at Maastricht Central Station: approx. 11:45
Excursion 2
Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT – Aachen (DE)
With over 480 employees, more than 19,500 m² of net floor space and over 40 spin-offs, the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT is one of the world’s leading contract research and development institutes in laser development and laser applications. Core competencies include the development of laser beam sources and components, laser measurement and testing technologies, and laser manufacturing technologies, such as cutting, ablation, drilling, welding and soldering, as well as surface finishing, micromanufacturing and additive manufacturing.
Application areas for laser beam sources and processes include production and metrology, energy and mobility, medical and environmental technology, and quantum technology. Together with German and international research and industry partners, ILT develops, for example, satellite-based measurement systems for climate research and frequency converters for a fibre-based quantum internet. Across its projects, Fraunhofer ILT addresses digitalisation in photonics and production technology, process monitoring and control, simulation and modelling, AI in laser technology, and systems engineering. Given this broad expertise, involvement in regional developments towards the Einstein Telescope at ET Pathfinder came naturally.
Practical information
- Travel duration: approx. 1 hour (Maastricht – Aachen)
- Departure from Maastricht Central Station: 08:45 (specific pick-up location to be determined)
- Arrival at location: approx. 09:45
- Start of programme: 10:00
- End of programme: approx. 14:00
- Lunch: to be determined
- Departure from location: 14:30
- Arrival at Maastricht Central Station: approx. 15:30
Excursion 3
Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL) & ET CRISTAL – Liège (BE)
Since 1964, the Centre Spatial de Liège (CSL) has been an applied research centre focused on the design of space observation instruments. CSL also operates a state-of-the-art environmental test centre serving the European Space Agency (ESA), the space industry, and regional companies. As part of the University of Liège, CSL is dedicated to space technologies, with a strong focus on optics and cryogenic cooling.
Space hardware must meet extremely high cleanliness and performance standards, particularly for optical payloads. CSL provides advanced R&D and qualification test services to ensure that flight hardware meets these stringent requirements. During the visit, participants will have the opportunity to explore the test facilities, including large cleanrooms and vacuum chambers used for space qualification according to ESA and NASA standards. Depending on ongoing activities, participants may also see space flight hardware undergoing testing.
A key highlight of this excursion is the ET CRISTAL facility (Einstein Telescope CRyogenics and Inertial STAbility Lab), a new European test site installed at CSL. This laboratory supports cutting-edge research into cryogenics and inertial stability, two critical technologies for the proposed Einstein Telescope, a next-generation gravitational-wave observatory. During the visit, participants will see the full test setup, including the suspended silicon mirror with vibration damping system, the radiator assembly for cryogenic cooling, and the dedicated vacuum chamber. Depending on the timing in October, some hardware may still be located at the neighbouring SME AMOS, so the exact setup may vary.
The excursion follows a mirrored programme. All participants will visit both CSL and ET CRISTAL. The programme starts at CSL, after which participants will be divided into two groups. Around lunchtime, the groups will switch locations, ensuring that all participants attend both site visits.
Practical information
- Travel duration: approx. 1 hour (Maastricht – Liège)
- Departure from Maastricht Central Station: 08:45 (specific pick-up location to be determined)
- Arrival at location: approx. 09:45
- Start of programme: 10:00
- End of programme: 12:00
- Lunch: not included, possible at own expense (or bring your own)
- Departure from location: 13:00
- Arrival at Maastricht Central Station: approx. 14:00
Excursion 4
Forschungszentrum Jülich – Jülich (DE)
The mission of Forschungszentrum Jülich is to shape change. More than 7,000 people work hand in hand at Jülich, including 672 visiting scientists from 62 countries. As one of Europe’s largest interdisciplinary research institutions and a member of the Helmholtz Association, it contributes to solving major societal challenges. Jülich provides state-of-the-art tools for its researchers: simulation with supercomputers, research with neutrons, imaging techniques for medicine and nanotechnology tools. These instruments facilitate breakthroughs to new horizons of knowledge. This infrastructure, valued and used worldwide, characterises Jülich as a home of key technologies. These tools link Big-Science-related fields such as nuclear physics and neutron science to societal challenges, including a sustainable hydrogen economy and bio- and geosciences. At the COSY facility, nuclear physics experiments are conducted with polarised proton and deuteron beams with momenta from 0.3 to about 3.5 GeV/c.
Practical information
- Travel duration: approx. 1 hour 30 minutes (Maastricht – Jülich)
- Departure from Maastricht Central Station: 08:15 (specific pick-up location to be determined)
- Arrival at location: approx. 09:45
- Start of programme: 10:00
- End of programme: approx. 14:30
- Lunch: not included, possible at own expense (or bring your own)
- Departure from location: 15:00
- Arrival at Maastricht Central Station: approx. 16:30
Excursion 5
MYRRHA ADS - A large research infrastructure – Mol (BE)
MYRRHA is a flexible, fast-spectrum research facility conceived as an accelerator-driven system (ADS), capable of operating in sub-critical and critical modes. It consists of a 600 MeV proton LINAC accelerator, a spallation neutron source, and a nuclear reactor with MOX fuel, cooled by liquid lead-bismuth (Pb-Bi).
MYRRHA offers applications in:
i) testing and developing the transmutation of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste,
ii) materials R&D for current and future nuclear fusion and fission reactors,
iii) advancements in high-power proton accelerators,
iv) the development and production of innovative medical radioisotopes,
v) the creation of reliable, powerful radioactive ion beams for fundamental and applied research,
vi) the scientific and technological exploration of HLM for use in LFR and spallation sources.
MYRRHA will be built in three phases:
- Phase 1: creation of MINERVA, consisting of the particle accelerator up to 100 MeV and two experimental facilities—the Proton Target Facility and the Full Power Facility for Fusion.
- Phase 2: expansion of the particle accelerator to 600 MeV.
- Phase 3: construction of the sub-critical nuclear reactor of MYRRHA.
The MYRRHA Phase 1 | MINERVA construction started in 2024, with many primary components ordered in 2020. The ion source, low-energy beam transport, and radio-frequency quadrupole are operational. Several other components are under construction and are scheduled to be completed by 2027, providing a 100 MeV proton beam to two experimental facilities by 2030.
Practical information
- Travel duration: approx. 1 hour 15 minutes (Maastricht – Mol)
- Departure from Maastricht Central Station: 09:00 (specific pick-up location to be determined)
- Arrival at location: approx. 10:15
- Start of programme: 10:30
- End of programme: approx. 16:30
- Lunch: to be determined
- Departure from location: 17:00
- Arrival at Maastricht Central Station: approx. 18:15
Excursion 6
TU/e Campus: Smart*Light & DIFFER – Eindhoven (NL)
Based on Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) technology developed at CERN, Smart*Light is developing a compact and mobile X-ray source that fits inside a container. Using the inverse Compton scattering effect, this source provides a high-intensity and tunable X-ray wavelength. Its performance exceeds that of conventional X-ray sources and approaches that of dedicated synchrotrons, while requiring a much smaller footprint.
Smart*Light has potential applications in clinical medical diagnostics, research laboratories focused on the development of new materials, and museums studying valuable works of art.
This excursion also includes a visit to DIFFER (Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research), where research is aimed at creating a future in which clean energy is accessible to everyone. A key objective is reducing dependence on fossil fuels while meeting the growing global demand for energy.
DIFFER conducts research on fusion energy and is the Dutch beneficiary of Fusion for Energy (F4E) and ITER. The institutes research includes experimental studies on plasma–wall interactions relevant to fusion reactors. The institute furthermore develops advanced diagnostics and control systems for fusion power plants. DIFFER is a member of the EURATOM consortium, which brings together fusion research organisations and universities from across Europe, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
The excursion follows a mirrored programme. All participants will visit both Smart*Light and DIFFER. The programme starts at DIFFER, after which participants will be divided into two groups. Around lunchtime, the groups will switch locations, ensuring that all participants attend both site visits.
Practical information
- Travel duration: approx. 1 hour 15 minutes (Maastricht – Eindhoven)
- Departure from Maastricht Central Station: 08:30 (specific pick-up location to be determined)
- Arrival at location: approx. 09:45
- Start of programme: 10:00
- End of programme: approx. 15:30
- Lunch: not included, possible at own expense (or bring your own)
- Departure from location: 16:00
- Arrival at Maastricht Central Station: approx. 17:15
Excursion 7
HFML-FELIX – Nijmegen (NL)
The High Field Magnet Laboratory (HFML) designs some of the world’s highest-field magnets, providing scientists with the tools to explore the properties and functionality of molecules and materials. Together with the FELIX infrared/terahertz free-electron lasers, these instruments enable researchers to achieve fundamental scientific breakthroughs and address societal challenges in areas such as health, energy, and smart materials.
HFML-FELIX combines a strong in-house research programme with a user facility model, offering the international scientific community access to cutting-edge instrumentation for experiments that push the boundaries of science.
Practical information
- Travel duration: approx. 2 hours (Maastricht – Nijmegen)
- Departure from Maastricht Central Station: 07:45 (specific pick-up location to be determined)
- Arrival at location: approx. 09:45
- Start of programme: 10:00
- End of programme: approx. 11:30
- Lunch: to be determined
- Departure from location: 12:30
- Arrival at Maastricht Central Station: approx. 14:30
