INGV researchers return to Onanì-Mamone prison for Einstein Telescope studies

Researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) are returning to the Onanì-Mamone correctional facility on October 14 and 15 to conclude the first phase of geophysical investigations. These studies, coordinated by the Geophysical Characterization Center for the Einstein Telescope (CCGET), aim to document the geophysical silence of the area, which is a candidate site for the Einstein Telescope—a future European gravitational wave observatory.

During this phase, sixteen seismic stations installed in March will be removed after six months of continuous monitoring of the Sardinian subsoil's background noise. This data will help identify primary sources of seismic disturbance. However, the magnetic and magnetotelluric station will remain active due to the high quality of the electromagnetic data collected.

The project involves a collaboration between INGV, the Ministry of Justice, and the State Property Agency (Agenzia del Demanio) in Sardinia. Notably, inmates at the facility have actively participated in the field operations, contributing to the installation of instruments and supporting the research efforts.