Data for manuscript entitled "Quantum-limited optical time transfer for future geosynchronous links"

Data for the figures in the manuscript entitled "Quantum-limited optical time transfer for future geosynchronous links" first published as a preprint at https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.12541. Abstract: The combination of optical time transfer and optical clocks opens up the possibility of large-scale free-space networks that connect both ground-based optical clocks and future space-based optical clocks. Such networks promise better tests of general relativity, dark matter searches, and gravitational wave detection. The ability to connect optical clocks to a distant satellite could enable space-based very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), advanced satellite navigation, clock-based geodesy, and thousand-fold improvements in intercontinental time dissemination. Thus far, only optical clocks have pushed towards quantum-limited performance. In contrast, optical time transfer has not operated at the analogous quantum limit set by the number of received photons. Here, we demonstrate time transfer with near quantum-limited acquisition and timing at 10,000 times lower received power than previous approaches. Over 300 km between mountaintops in Hawaii with launched powers as low as 40 μW, distant timescales are synchronized to 320 attoseconds. This nearly quantum-limited operation is critical for long-distance free-space links where photons are few and amplification costly -- at 4.0 mW transmit power, this approach can support 102 dB link loss, more than sufficient for future time transfer to geosynchronous orbits.Fig2a: Low power acquisition with a time programmable frequency combFig2b: Timing noise versus received powerFig2c: Time deviations for various received powersFig3: Time deviations and modified Allan deviationsFig4: Power spectral densities and excess noise as a function of turbulence Fig5: Multi-parameter comparison of time transfer methods

[
  "006:55"
]

[
  "en"
]

[
  "006:045"
]

[
  "https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.12541"
]

[
  "Metrology:Time and frequency metrology",
  "Physics:Optical physics",
  "Physics:Time and frequency"
]