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Femtosecond time synchronization of optical clocks off of a flying quadcopter

Author

Listed:
  • Hugo Bergeron

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Université Laval)

  • Laura C. Sinclair

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Université Laval)

  • William C. Swann

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Université Laval)

  • Isaac Khader

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Université Laval)

  • Kevin C. Cossel

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Université Laval)

  • Michael Cermak

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Université Laval)

  • Jean-Daniel Deschênes

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Université Laval)

  • Nathan R. Newbury

    (National Institute of Standards and Technology
    Université Laval)

Abstract

Future optical clock networks will require free-space optical time-frequency transfer between flying clocks. However, simple one-way or standard two-way time transfer between flying clocks will completely break down because of the time-of-flight variations and Doppler shifts associated with the strongly time-varying link distances. Here, we demonstrate an advanced, frequency comb-based optical two-way time-frequency transfer (O-TWTFT) that can successfully synchronize the optical timescales at two sites connected via a time-varying turbulent air path. The link between the two sites is established using either a quadcopter-mounted retroreflector or a swept delay line at speeds up to 24 ms−1. Despite 50-ps breakdown in time-of-flight reciprocity, the sites’ timescales are synchronized to

Suggested Citation

  • Hugo Bergeron & Laura C. Sinclair & William C. Swann & Isaac Khader & Kevin C. Cossel & Michael Cermak & Jean-Daniel Deschênes & Nathan R. Newbury, 2019. "Femtosecond time synchronization of optical clocks off of a flying quadcopter," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09768-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09768-9
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