Simultaneous remote transfer of accurate timing and optical frequency over a public fiber network

Olivier Lopez (1) , Amale Kanj (2) , Paul-Eric Pottie (2) , Giovanni D. Rovera (2) , Joseph Achkar (2) , Christian Chardonnet (1) , Anne Amy-Klein (3) , Giorgio Santarelli (4, 2)

1 MMTF
2 LNE - SYRTE - Laboratoire national de métrologie et d'essais - Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace
3 LPL - Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers
4 lp2n-06,lp2n-14

In this work we demonstrate for the first time that it is possible to transfer simultaneously an ultra-stable optical frequency and a precise and accurate timing over 540 km using a public telecommunication optical fiber networks with Internet data. The optical phase is used to carry both the frequency information and the timestamps by modulating a very narrow optical carrier at 1.55 µm with spread spectrum signals using two-way satellite time transfer modems. The results in term of absolute time accuracy (250 ps) and long-term timing stability (20 ps) well outperform the conventional Global Navigation Satellite System or geostationary transfer methods.

Mots clés: frequency transfer; optical link; time transfer; time and frequency metrology

Domaines: Physique Quantique [quant-ph]; Optique [physics.optics]; Astrophysique [astro-ph]

Olivier Lopez, Amale Kanj, Paul-Eric Pottie, Giovanni D. Rovera, Joseph Achkar, et al.. Simultaneous remote transfer of accurate timing and optical frequency over a public fiber network. Applied Physics B - Laser and Optics, 2013, 110 (1), pp.3-6. ⟨10.1007/s00340-012-5241-0⟩. ⟨hal-00734103v2⟩