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

Open-loop polarization mode dispersion mitigation for fibre-optic time and frequency transfer

The non-reciprocal and dynamic nature of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in optical fibers can be a problem for accurate time and frequency transfer. Here, a simple, passive solution is put forward that is based on transmitting optical pulses with alternating orthogonal polarization. The fast and deterministic polarization modulation means that the PMD noise is pushed far away from the frequencies of interest. Furthermore, upon reflection from a Faraday mirror at the receiver, the pulses have a well-defined polarization when they return to the transmitter, which facilitates stable optical phase detection and fibre phase compensation. In an open-loop test setup that uses a mode-locked laser and a simple pulse interleaver, the polarization mode dispersion is shown to be reduced by more than two orders of magnitude.

Highly stable multiple-access underwater frequency transfer with terminal phase compensation

A multiple-access underwater frequency transfer scheme using terminal phase compensation is demonstrated. With this scheme, a highly stable 100 MHz frequency signal was disseminated over a 3 m underwater link for 5000 s. The timing fluctuation and fractional frequency instability were both measured and analyzed. The experimental results show that with the phase compensation technique, the total root-mean-square (RMS) timing fluctuation is about 3 ps, and the fractional frequency instabilities are on the order of 5.9×10^-13 at 1 s and 5.3×10^-15 at 1000 s. The experiment results indicate that the proposed frequency transfer technique has a potential application of disseminating an atomic clock to multiple terminals.

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.

Development of ultrastable fiber-optic time and frequency reference networks in Africa

The unparalleled accuracy of modern-day atomic clocks has stimulated the development of time and frequency comparison techniques, with optical frequency transfer over fiber networks emerging as the preferred method. It has been demonstrated that frequency transfer over optical fibers has an order-of-magnitude better stability and accuracy than traditional satellite-based techniques. Precise time has become an essential service for most critical infrastructure and applications. New progress in LTE and 5G will demand more access to precise time with accuracies of under 10 ns. Although this technology exists in Africa, continuous improvements are required. With the arrival of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) in Africa, the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) upgraded its time and frequency infrastructure in order to support the stringent time accuracy requirements of the MeerKAT and SKA telescopes. Over the past five years, the Centre for Broadband Communication at the Nelson Mandela University has been conducting exciting and cutting-edge research looking at new and innovative ways for coherently disseminating high-speed data and clock over optical fiber networks. This paper reports on recent research progress made in developing synchronous optical networks in South Africa and across the African continent. This paper begins by presenting a pioneering all-optical approach for measuring the round-trip latency time along a spooled G.652 single-mode fiber. This has been realized by optically injecting a pulse-per-second (PPS) signal from a distributed feedback laser into the slave mode of a 1550 nm vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) located at the receiver end. A round-trip fiber time delay of 113.2 µs was experimentally measured over 22 km. Furthermore, the jitter instability of an optically modulated PPS was measured as a function of temperature. A jitter of 434.82 ps was measured during the night-to-day temperature cycle (5°C-25°C). The impact of polarization fluctuations on jitter stability is presented. A maximum jitter of 417.88 ps was measured for the transmitted PPS along the aerial fiber. Lastly, a novel technique for distributing a stable microwave reference frequency, using an intensity modulated VCSEL, is presented. The novel frequency dissemination and synchronization system proposes the use of a VCSEL-based phase correction actuator together with the inherent chromatic dispersion properties of the fiber. Frequency instabilities of 4.18939×10^-12 at 10⁴s without active noise cancellation and 4.86×10^-14 at 10⁴s with active noise cancellation were successfully measured across the 26 km G.655 fiber link.

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.

Phase noise cancellation in polarisation-maintaining fibre links

The distribution of ultra-narrow linewidth laser radiation is an integral part of many challenging metrological applications. Changes in the optical pathlength induced by environmental disturbances compromise the stability and accuracy of optical fibre networks distributing the laser light and call for active phase noise cancellation. Here we present a laboratory scale optical (at 578 nm) fibre network featuring all polarisation maintaining fibres in a setup with low optical powers available and tracking voltage-controlled oscillators implemented. The stability and accuracy of this system reach performance levels below 1 × 10^-19 after 10 000 s of averaging.

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.

Multi-access fiber-optic radio frequency transfer with passive phase noise compensation

In this Letter, we propose and demonstrate a multi-access fiber-optic radio frequency dissemination with passive phase noise cancelation. A forward phase-conjugated signal is generated at the local site by frequency mixing between the standard signal and the round-trip probe signal. A stable frequency signal is achieved by frequency mixing the tapped forward phase-conjugated signal and the backward probe signal at an arbitrary point along the fiber link. Different wavelengths for forward and backward directions are employed to efficiently suppress the effect of backscattering. At the same time, the increase of bidirectional asymmetry with the increase of user ends is avoided by employing the same wavelengths for all user ends. A multi-access frequency transfer over a 45 km fiber link based on the proposed scheme is demonstrated. The radio frequency signals with relative frequency stabilities of 10^-17/20,000  s level are reproduced at two points of 5 and 40 km far from the local site along the fiber link, respectively.

Coherence transfer of subhertz-linewidth laser light via an optical fiber noise compensated by remote users

We present a technique for the coherence transfer of laser light through a fiber link, where the optical phase noise induced by environmental perturbation via the fiber link is compensated by remote users. When compensating the fiber noise by remote users, the time base at the remote site independent from that at the local site does not destroy the performance of the fiber output light. Using this technique, we demonstrate the transfer of subhertz-linewidth laser light through a 25-km-long, lab-based spooled fiber. After being compensated, the relative linewidth between the fiber input and output light is 1 mHz, and the relative frequency instability is 4×10^-17 at 1 s averaging time and scales down to 2×10^-19 at 800 s averaging time. The frequency uncertainty of the light after transferring through the fiber relative to that of the input light is 3.0×10^-19. This system is suitable for the simultaneous transfer of an optical signal to a number of end users within a city.

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.

Dissemination stability and phase noise characteristics in a cascaded, fiber-based long-haul radio frequency dissemination network

To study the dissemination stability and phase noise characteristics of the cascaded fiber-based RF dissemination, we perform an experiment using three sets of RF modulated frequency dissemination systems. The experimental results show that the total transfer stability of the cascaded system can be given by σ(T)(2)=∑(i=1)(N)σ(i)(2) (σ(i) is the frequency dissemination stability of the ith segment and N is the quantity of segments). Furthermore, for each segment, the phase noise of recovered frequency signal is also measured. The results show that for an N-segment, cascaded dissemination system, its stability degrades only by a factor of N. This sub-linear relation makes the cascaded, RF-dissemination method a very attractive one for long-haul, time and frequency dissemination network.

High-bandwidth transfer of phase stability through a fiber frequency comb

We demonstrate phase locking of a 729 nm diode laser to a 1542 nm master laser via an erbium-doped-fiber frequency comb, using a transfer-oscillator feedforward scheme which suppresses the effect of comb noise in an unprecedented 1.8 MHz bandwidth. We illustrate its performance by carrying out coherent manipulations of a trapped calcium ion with 99 % fidelity even at few-μs timescales. We thus demonstrate that transfer-oscillator locking can provide sufficient phase stability for high-fidelity quantum logic manipulation even without pre-stabilization of the slave diode laser.

Portable microwave frequency dissemination in free space and implications on ground-to-satellite synchronization

Frequency dissemination and synchronization in free space play an important role in global navigation satellite system, radio astronomy, and synthetic aperture radar. In this paper, we demonstrated a portable radio frequency dissemination scheme via free space using microwave antennas. The setup has a good environment adaptability and high dissemination stability. The frequency signal was disseminated at different distances ranging from 10 to 640 m with a fixed 10 Hz locking bandwidth, and the scaling law of dissemination stability on distance and averaging time was discussed. The preliminary extrapolation shows that the dissemination stability may reach 1 × 10(-12)/s in ground-to-satellite synchronization, which far exceeds all present methods, and is worthy for further study.

In-field Raman amplification on coherent optical fiber links for frequency metrology

Distributed Raman amplification (DRA) is widely exploited for the transmission of broadband, modulated signals used in data links, but not yet in coherent optical links for frequency metrology, where the requirements are rather different. After preliminary tests on fiber spools, in this paper we deeper investigate Raman amplification on deployed in-field optical metrological links. We actually test a Doppler-stabilized optical link both on a 94 km-long metro-network implementation with multiplexed ITU data channels and on a 180 km-long dedicated fiber haul connecting two cities, where DRA is employed in combination with Erbium-doped fiber amplification (EDFA). The performance of DRA is detailed in both experiments, indicating that it does not introduce noticeable penalties for the metrological signal or for the ITU data channels. We hence show that Raman amplification of metrological signals can be compatible with a wavelength division multiplexing architecture and that it can be used as an alternative or in combination with dedicated bidirectional EDFAs. No deterioration is noticed in the coherence properties of the delivered signal, which attains frequency instability at the 10(-19) level in both cases. This study can be of interest also in view of the undergoing deployment of continental fiber networks for frequency metrology.

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.

Chirped frequency transfer: a tool for synchronization and time transfer

We propose and demonstrate the phase-stabilized transfer of a chirped frequency as a tool for synchronization and time transfer. Technically, this is done by evaluating remote measurements of the transferred, chirped frequency. The gates of the frequency counters, here driven by a 10-MHz oscillation derived from a hydrogen maser, play a role analogous to the 1-pulse per second (PPS) signals usually employed for time transfer. In general, for time transfer, the gates consequently must be related to the external clock. Synchronizing observations based on frequency measurements, on the other hand, only requires a stable oscillator driving the frequency counters. In a proof of principle, we demonstrate the suppression of symmetrical delays, such as the geometrical path delay. We transfer an optical frequency chirped by around 240 kHz/s over a fiber link of around 149 km. We observe an accuracy and simultaneity, as well as a precision (Allan deviation, 18,000 s averaging interval) of the transferred frequency of around 2 × 10(-19). We apply chirped frequency transfer to remote measurements of the synchronization between two counters' gate intervals. Here, we find a precision of around 200 ps at an estimated overall uncertainty of around 500 ps. The measurement results agree with those obtained from reference measurements, being well within the uncertainty. In the present setup, timing offsets up to 4 min can be measured unambiguously. We indicate how this range can be extended further.