After more than a decade trapped in a secret man-made WWII cavern, a unique laser that connects New Zealand and Germany has been rescued and restored. Thirty years ago, a visionary partnership was forged between the University of Canterbury, the Technical University of Munich, and the Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG). This collaboration brought together some of the brightest minds from both nations, united by a common goal: to develop the C-II ring laser, a globally unique device capable of measuring absolute rotational velocities with unprecedented precision. The C-II represented a monumental leap forward in seismology and the precise determination of Earth’s position, a critical parameter for satellite navigation and space research. Following the devastating Christchurch earthquakes, the cavern was closed, making access to the ring laser impossible for twelve years. Over the last year, a joint effort by MBIE, the University of Canterbury, and the Technical University of Munich, supported by the Christchurch City Council, saw the recovery and refurbishment of the ring laser. Last week, we celebrated its recommissioning and 30 years of international research cooperation at UC’s Ilam campus. 📷 : Image one: Jon-Paul Wells from the University of Canterbury, with Hugo Bussell, MBIE International Science Partnerships Manager. Image two: Ulrich Schreiber from the Technical University of Munich. Jon-Paul Wells and Ulrich Schreiber are lead researchers for the programme.
Delighted to see the ring laser recommissioned and that MBIE’s International team supported its recovery. Congratulations Jon-Paul! About time!
Professor of Physics at The University of Auckland
1wThis is cool. I remember back in 1992 or some such the graduate students were furious because our 6th floor break room (with a cookie roster and a bunch of scruffy couches thrown out of a couple of student flats) was stripped bare with no warning over a weekend and eventually converted into a clean room (and after being the grubbiest room in the building) for the first ring laser, before it moved under the Port Hills. And remember being told that they could see the building stretch on the East side in the morning when it was hit by the warmth of the rising sun, tilting the floor in the lab. Congrats to everyone!