Multipoint dissemination of RF frequency in fiber optic link with stabilized propagation delay

Node-downloadable frequency transfer system based on a mode-locked laser with over 100 km of fiber

To meet the requirements of time-frequency networks and enable frequency downloadability for nodes along the link, we demonstrated the extraction of stable frequency signals at nodes using a mode-locked laser under the condition of 100 km laboratory fiber. The node consists of a simple structure that utilizes widely used optoelectronic devices and enables plug-and-play applications. In addition, the node can recover frequency signals with multiple frequencies, which are useful for scenarios that require different frequencies. Here, we experimentally demonstrated a short-term frequency instability of 2.83 × 10-13@1 s and a long-term frequency instability of 1.18 × 10-15@10,000 s at the node, which is similar to that at the remote site of the frequency transfer system. At the same time, frequency signals with different frequencies also achieved stable extraction with the same performance at the node. Our results can support the distributed application under large-scale time-frequency networks.

Multi-nodes dissemination of stable radio frequency with 10-17 instability over 2000 km optical fiber

To meet the demand of flexible access for high-precision synchronization frequency, we demonstrate multi-node stable radio frequency (RF) dissemination over a long-distance optical fiber. Stable radio frequency signals can be extracted at any node along the optical fiber, not just at the endpoint. The differential mixing structure (DMS) is employed to avoid the frequency harmonic leakage and enhance the precision. The phase-locked loop (PLL) provides frequency reference for the DMS while improving the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of dissemination signal. We measure the frequency instability of multi-node stable frequency dissemination system (MFDS) at different locations along the 2,000 km optical fiber. The measured short-term instability with average time of 1 s are 1.90 × 10-14 @ 500 km, 2.81 × 10-14 @ 1,000 km, 3.46 × 10-14 @ 1,500 km, and 3.84 × 10-14 @ 2,000 km respectively. The long-term instability with average time of 10,000 s are basically the same at any position of the optical fiber, which is about (6.24 ± 0.05) × 10-17. The resulting instability is sufficient for the propagation of precision active hydrogen masers.

Generation of a coherent distributed RF array with a strong positive correlation

In this work, we present a coherent distributed radio frequency (RF) array, discover and quantitatively describe the strong positive correlation between reconstructed signals for the first time. Eight replicable parallel receivers are connected to the phase-locked common trunk link via eight optical couplers spaced 1 km apart. The forward and backward signals at each receiver, extracted from two ports of optical couplers, are recovered to RF signals separately and then mixed to achieve upward frequency conversion. The link delay jitter is counteracted by wavelength-tuning of the optical carrier. With the long-term stability of point-to-multipoint fiber-optic RF dissemination effectively improved, the coherent distributed array is generated, and further the relative frequency stability between signals at different receivers is studied. The proposed correlation coefficient at 10³ s is ∼0.8 and shows a slight downward trend with the increase of averaging time based on our experimental results.

All-passive multiple-place optical phase noise cancellation

We report on the realization of delivering coherent optical frequency to multiple places based on passive phase noise cancellation over a bus topology fiber network. This technique mitigates any active servo controller on the main fiber link and at arbitrary access places as opposed to the conventional technique, in which an active phase compensation circuit has to be adopted to stabilize the main fiber link. Although the residual fiber phase noise power spectral density in the proposed technique turns out to be a factor of seven higher than that of in the conventional multiple-access technique when the access place is close to the end of the fiber link, it could largely suppress the phase noise introduced by the servo bumps, improve the response speed and phase recovery time, and minimize hardware overhead in systems with many stations and connections without the need for active servo circuits including phase discriminators and active compensators. The proposed technique could considerably simplify future efforts to make precise optical frequency signals available to many users, as required by some large-scale science experiments.

Multi-access fiber-optic time dissemination with bidirectional optical-electrical-optical nodes

We first report multi-access time dissemination with bidirectional optical-electrical-optical (BOEO) nodes based on bidirectional time division multiplexing transmission over a single fiber with the same wavelength. Each BOEO node can be simultaneously served as a bidirectional amplifier, an isolator, and a multi-access time dissemination node to boost the faded bidirectional optical signals, to effectively suppress the accumulated noise along the main fiber link, and to extract synchronized time signals, respectively. We experimentally demonstrate multi-access time dissemination with two BOEO nodes in our time dissemination apparatus with the main fiber link up to 350 km. The results illustrate that stabilities in terms of time deviation of 23.2 ps at the integration time of 1 s and 3.8 ps at the integration time of 10⁵ s, 24.3 ps at the integration time of 1 s and 1.3 ps at the integration time of 10⁵ s, and 23.9 ps at the integration time of 1 s and 2.9 ps at the integration time of 10⁵ s are obtained for the main link and access nodes 1 (AN1) and 2 (AN2), respectively. The proposed scheme demonstrated together with preliminary measurement results provides a guidance for future development ultra-long haul fiber-optic time dissemination with the BOEO nodes.

Modeling and Optimization of Bidirectional Fiber-Optic Links for Time and Frequency Transfer

In this paper, a bidirectional fiber-optic link is considered, composed of two end terminals, connected by a number of fiber spans and bidirectional optical amplifiers. The end terminals exchange time and frequency information by sending and receiving intensity modulated optical signals in both directions, which is required to compensate the fluctuation of the propagation delay of the transmission medium. In such a link for its optimal performance, the gains of the bidirectional optical amplifiers need to be adjusted to minimize the noise resulting from Rayleigh backscattering and amplified spontaneous emission. A model of the link is proposed using a transmission matrixes approach, which allows estimating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the ends of the main link (i.e., connecting the end terminals) and at the extraction (tapping) nodes located along the main link. The transmission matrixes of a fiber span and Er-doped fiber amplifier are presented and required formulas are derived. In addition, wavelength selective isolators are considered, which allow intentional breaking of the propagation of backscattered signals and are effective in improving the SNR when long fiber spans are involved. The model is experimentally verified in a laboratory link composed of four bidirectional amplifiers and five fiber spans of total length up to 420 km, showing the agreement between the measured and calculated SNRs not worse than 2 dB.

Atomic clocks for geodesy

We review experimental progress on optical atomic clocks and frequency transfer, and consider the prospects of using these technologies for geodetic measurements. Today, optical atomic frequency standards have reached relative frequency inaccuracies below 10^-17, opening new fields of fundamental and applied research. The dependence of atomic frequencies on the gravitational potential makes atomic clocks ideal candidates for the search for deviations in the predictions of Einstein's general relativity, tests of modern unifying theories and the development of new gravity field sensors. In this review, we introduce the concepts of optical atomic clocks and present the status of international clock development and comparison. Besides further improvement in stability and accuracy of today's best clocks, a large effort is put into increasing the reliability and technological readiness for applications outside of specialized laboratories with compact, portable devices. With relative frequency uncertainties of 10^-18, comparisons of optical frequency standards are foreseen to contribute together with satellite and terrestrial data to the precise determination of fundamental height reference systems in geodesy with a resolution at the cm-level. The long-term stability of atomic standards will deliver excellent long-term height references for geodetic measurements and for the modelling and understanding of our Earth.

Fiber-optic radio frequency transfer based on active phase noise compensation using a carrier suppressed double-sideband signal

In this Letter, we propose a fiber-optic radio frequency (RF) transfer based on active phase noise compensation adopting a carrier suppressed double-sideband (CSDSB) signal. The forward CSDSB signal is generated based on the transmitted RF signal at the local site to discriminate from the backward RF signal. The forward and backward signals are transmitted over the same fiber with the same wavelength to guarantee the bidirectional propagation symmetry. The impact of backscattering is efficiently suppressed by electrical filtering at the sites. A 1 GHz signal transfer over a 40 km optical link is performed in a laboratory. The results show that the proposed scheme can improve the short-term stability from 1.9  e-13/s to 3.9  e-14/s in contrast to the scheme with backscattering while reaching a long-term stability of 2.0  e-16/10000 s.

High-precision multi-node clock network distribution

A high precision multi-node clock network for multiple users was built following the precise frequency transmission and time synchronization of 120 km fiber. The network topology adopts a simple star-shaped network structure. The clock signal of a hydrogen maser (synchronized with UTC) was recovered from a 120 km telecommunication fiber link and then was distributed to 4 sub-stations. The fractional frequency instability of all substations is in the level of 10^-15 in a second and the clock offset instability is in sub-ps in root-mean-square average.

GVD-insensitive stable radio frequency phase dissemination for arbitrary-access loop link

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a stable radio frequency (RF) phase dissemination scheme for a long-haul optical fiber loop link based on frequency mixing. Using a single optical source in both directions of the loop link, additional timing jitter caused by group velocity dispersion (GVD) can be eliminated. Impressive scalability provided by the optical link ensures that arbitrary-access node can obtain an RF signal with a stabilized phase to meet the requirements of multiple users. In our experiment, a 2.4 GHz RF signal is distributed to arbitrary points along a 100 km fiber-optic loop link steadily. Stabilities of the recovered signals from two accessing nodes are recorded. The root-mean-square (RMS) phase jitter of the received signal at either accessing node is reduced from 1.87 rad to no more than 0.027 rad during 1800-second measuring time.

ELSTAB-Fiber-Optic Time and Frequency Distribution Technology: A General Characterization and Fundamental Limits

In this paper, we present an overview of the electronically stabilized (thus named ELSTAB) fiber-optic time and frequency (T&F) distribution system based on our idea of using variable electronic delay lines as compensating elements. Various extensions of the basic system, allowing building a long-haul, multiuser network are described. The fundamental limitations of the method arising from fiber chromatic dispersion and system dynamics are discussed. We briefly characterize the main hardware challenge of the system, which is the design of a pair of low-noise, precisely matched delay lines. Finally, we present experimental results with T&F distribution over up to 615 km of fiber, where we demonstrate frequency stability in the range of 1-7 ×10(-17) for 10(5) s averaging and time calibration with accuracy well below 50 ps. Also, practical implementation of the ELSTAB in the Polish T&F distribution network is shown.

Bidirectional microwave and optical signal dissemination

We describe a technique to disseminate highly stable microwave and optical signals from physically separated frequency standards to multiple locations. We demonstrate our technique by transferring the frequency stability performance of a microwave frequency reference to the repetition-rate stability of an optical frequency comb in a different location. The stabilized optical frequency comb becomes available in both locations for measurements of both optical and microwave signals. We show a microwave frequency stability of 4×10(-15) in both locations for integration times beyond 100 s. The control system uses only a standard Ethernet connection.

Square Kilometre Array Telescope--Precision Reference Frequency Synchronisation via 1f-2f Dissemination

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is an international effort to build the world's largest radio telescope, with a one-square-kilometre collecting area. In addition to its ambitious scientific objectives, such as probing cosmic dawn and the cradle of life, the SKA demands several revolutionary technological breakthroughs, such as ultra-high precision synchronisation of the frequency references for thousands of antennas. In this report, with the purpose of application to the SKA, we demonstrate a frequency reference dissemination and synchronisation scheme in which the phase-noise compensation function is applied at the client site. Hence, one central hub can be linked to a large number of client sites, thus forming a star-shaped topology. As a performance test, a 100-MHz reference frequency signal from a hydrogen maser (H-maser) clock is disseminated and recovered at two remote sites. The phase-noise characteristics of the recovered reference frequency signal coincide with those of the H-maser source and satisfy the SKA requirements.

WDM-based radio frequency dissemination in a tree-topology fiber optic network

In this paper, we propose and demonstrate a scheme to achieve point-to-multipoint dissemination of radio frequency (RF) signals in a local area fiber optic network with tree topology based on wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technique. The phase changes caused by the fluctuations of the transfer links are passively canceled at remote end instead of at local end, which makes it feasible to flexibly build a tree-topology local area dissemination network with great cost-effectiveness. For the first time, we study the limit of long-term performance which is caused by temperature-induced variation of group velocity dispersion (TIVGVD) in dissemination networks using WDM techniques. In the proof-of-concept experiments, 38.5 km and 50 km fiber links are established to disseminate a 1 GHz frequency signal with fractional instability of 10(-17) order after 10(4) s averaging time. Then 17.4 nm wavelength spacing is introduced between local carrier and user carrier to verify the theoretical analysis. Under a controlled fiber temperature variation of about 21 °C, the obtained overlapping Allan deviation (ADEV) agrees well with the simulation results after 10(4) s time scales, which proves the validity of our theory. The theory has practical values in predicting and optimizing the capacity and performance of a WDM-based local area RF dissemination network.

Multipoint joint time and frequency dissemination in delay-stabilized fiber optic links

This paper presents the system for dissemination of both the RF frequency (e.g., 5, 10, or 100 MHz) and time (pulse per second) signals using an actively tapped fiber-optic link with electronic stabilization of the propagation delay. In principle several nodes for accessing the time/frequency signals may be added without the degradation of the dissemination in the main link. We are discussing the algorithm of determining the propagation delay from the local end of the link to the access node that is required for calibration of the time dissemination. Performed analysis shows that the uncertainty of the time calibration at the access node may in practice be dominated by the dependence of the propagation delay of the receivers on impinging optical powers and is only weakly affected by the distance between the local and access modules. The uncertainty is, however, still low, being only about two times higher compared with the calibration uncertainty of the main link. Experimental results performed on several spooled fibers show that the accuracy of described calibration procedures, expressed as a difference from the results of direct measurement, is not worse than 35 ps.

Frequency comb-based multiple-access ultrastable frequency dissemination with 7 × 10(-17) instability

In this letter, we demonstrate frequency-comb-based multiple-access ultrastable frequency dissemination over a 10-km single-mode fiber link. First, we synchronize optical pulse trains from an Er-fiber frequency comb to the remote site by using a simple and robust phase-conjugate stabilization method. The fractional frequency-transfer instability at the remote site is 2.6×10(-14) and 4.9×10(-17) for averaging times of 1 and 10,000 s, respectively. Then, we reproduce the harmonic of the repetition rate from the disseminated optical pulse trains at an arbitrary point along the fiber link to test comb-based multiple-access performance, and demonstrate frequency instability of 4×10(-14) and 7×10(-17) at 1 and 10,000 s averaging time, respectively. The proposed comb-based multiple-access frequency dissemination can easily achieve highly stable wideband microwave extraction along the whole link.

Stable radio frequency dissemination by simple hybrid frequency modulation scheme

In this Letter, we propose a fiber-based stable radio frequency transfer system by a hybrid frequency modulation scheme. Creatively, two radio frequency signals are combined and simultaneously transferred by only one laser diode. One frequency component is used to detect the phase fluctuation, and the other one is the derivative compensated signal providing a stable frequency for the remote end. A proper ratio of the frequencies of the components is well maintained by parameter m to avoid interference between them. Experimentally, a stable 200 MHz signal is transferred over 100 km optical fiber with the help of a 1 GHz detecting signal, and fractional instability of 2×10(-17) at 10(5) s is achieved.

Eavesdropping time and frequency: phase noise cancellation along a time-varying path, such as an optical fiber

Single-mode optical fiber is a highly efficient connecting medium used not only for optical telecommunications but also for the dissemination of ultrastable frequencies or timing signals. Ma et al. [Opt. Lett.19, 1777 (1994)] described a measurement and control system to deliver the same optical frequency at two places, namely the two ends of a fiber, by eliminating the "fiber-induced phase-noise modulation, which corrupts high-precision frequency-based applications." I present a simple detection and control scheme to deliver the same optical frequency at many places anywhere along a transmission path, or in its vicinity, with a relative instability of 1 part in 10(19). The same idea applies to radio frequency and timing signals. This considerably simplifies future efforts to make precise timing or frequency signals available to many users, as required in some large-scale science experiments.