Femtosecond time synchronization of optical clocks off of a flying quadcopter.

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?-18 despite 10^-7 Doppler shifts. This work demonstrates comb-based O-TWTFT can enable free-space optical networks between airborne or satellite-borne optical clocks for precision navigation, timing and probes of fundamental science.

SUBMITTER: Bergeron H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6472402 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature