Status report of the gravitational wave detector AURIGA

The gravitational wave resonant detector AURIGA is about to start its second scientific run. Compared to the first run, the detector has been upgraded significantly in: 1) the readout employs a double stage SQUID amplifier; 2) the matching line between the transducer and the amplifier is resonant and tuned to the bar resonance; 3) the cryogenic suspensions have been modified in order avoid spurious resonances in the relevant frequency range and ensure an attenuation of approximately -300 dB. The sensitivity and the bandwidth at T=1.5 K are expected to be at least one order of magnitude better than in the previous run.