Physicist Alain Brillet passed away on March 20, 2026, at the age of 78. Introduction Alain Brillet was a French physicist, specializing in detectors for gravitational waves. He became known as one of the two founders of the Virgo interferometer, and his death is noted due to his central role in experimental gravitational physics. Career and Achievements Brillet primarily worked on the development of large-scale laser interferometry and the realization of Virgo. His work laid the foundation for the European contribution to the first direct detection of gravitational waves. Specialized in detectors for gravitational waves and in technical innovations related to laser interferometry and sensitive measurement techniques. One of the two founders of the Virgo interferometer, located in Cascina, Italy. Led the Virgo consortium for the design and construction of the detector from 1989 to 2003. Worked at the European Gravitational Observatory, the joint research institute that manages Virgo. Virgo played a crucial role in the first direct detection of gravitational waves in 2015, alongside the American LIGO detectors. Received the Ampère Prize in 2016, an award from the French Academy of Sciences for outstanding contributions to physics. Received the CNRS Gold Medal in 2017, the highest honor from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Private Life Alain Brillet was born on March 30, 1947, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France. He held French nationality; further personal details are publicly limited. Passing Alain Brillet passed away on March 20, 2026, at the age of 78. The place of death has not been confirmed. The cause of death is not publicly known, and no official statement has been published. Official reactions or memorial announcements have not been made public to date. Conclusion With the passing of Alain Brillet, physics loses a leading pioneer in experimental gravitational physics. His work on the Virgo interferometer and international collaboration remains a lasting legacy for the field. On Overleden.net, you can find more notable deceased individuals from the science. This article was prepared with the support of AI tools and verified by the editorial team of Overleden.net.