Recent improvements on the EXPLORER gravitational wave antenna

The EXPLORER gravitational wave detector has been recently improved. The antenna has been equipped with a new read-out. The use of a new transducer, characterized by a very small gap, and a dc-Squid with a high coupling, led to a better sensitivity and a larger bandwidth. In the first six months of the year 2000, an effective temperature of 3 mK and a bandwidth of almost 8 Hz were reached. Further improvements are expected. The new experimental configuration appears also very promising for use in the ultra-cryogenic antenna NAUTILUS.