News

A new Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVAC) has been inaugurated at the Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) on the campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). The facility will enable satellites and space technologies to be tested under conditions representative of Earth’s orbit, expanding the capabilities available to the research and space technology communities. The TVAC is a joint project of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and IFAE, made possible through funding from the CERCA Ginys III programme, together with additional support from the Government of Catalonia, the IEEC and IFAE.

IFAE hosted the Medipix Collaboration Meeting in Barcelona, bringing together over 50 international participants for scientific discussions and visits to IFAE laboratories, IMB-CNM, and ALBA Synchrotron.

Artist and researcher George Mahashe has begun a two-month residency at IFAE within the Platform Dalí programme, exploring connections between scientific research, image-making and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.

Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, the spin-off of IFAE, BSC and UB has contributed to the deployment at BSC of a system constituted by a new 35-qubit quantum computer, along with another 20-qubit quantum computer for uninterrupted operation, with Manel Martínez acting as Project Leader within the Qilimanjaro-GMV consortium.

IFAE’s Communication Unit has received provisional recognition from FECYT as an official Unit of Scientific Culture and Innovation (UCC+I), acknowledging its work in science communication, outreach and education, and the collaborative efforts of IFAE research groups in bringing science closer to society.

IFAE welcomed a delegation from the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute to discuss the scientific activities of both institutions and explore possible future collaborations in areas of shared research interest.

Teresa Sanchis, Director General for Research of the Government of Catalonia, visited IFAE to learn more about the institute’s research and technical capabilities, including the Technical Division and PIC.

A new European project has been approved to support the transition of the Einstein Telescope (ET) towards its implementation phase, marking another important step in the development of Europe’s future third-generation gravitational-wave observatory.

IFAE members from the gravitational waves group and technical division completed the first pre-assembly of a baffle for the Virgo detector at EGO, ahead of its planned installation next week.