ANR FIMOPTIC Project
– Observe faults with light
The FIMOPTIC project aims to better detect and understand the very slight deformations that occur along geological faults, sometimes before major earthquakes.
These signals, which are extremely subtle, are currently difficult to measure with conventional instruments.
The project relies on very high-resolution optical sensors (long-base tiltmeter, seismometer and extensometer) based on Fabry-Perot interferometry, developed over more than ten years by teams from ESEO, IPGP and ENS.
Objective: To detect, characterise and model the mechanical mechanisms responsible for transient fault instabilities, combining optical measurements, geophysical data and advanced analysis tools.
The sensors are deployed at two sites:
- an active seismic rift zone in Greece (Corinth),
- a deep mine in Sweden, as close as possible to repetitive seismic sources.
FIMOPTIC contributes to a better understanding of the seismic cycle, while paving the way for new geomonitoring solutions for research and industry.
Involved Researchers : Matthieu FEUILLOY, Viktor SMIRNOV, Philippe MÉNARD
