Femtosecond precision optical frequency and timing distribution for radio astronomy

Kemal Şafak; Anan Dai; Michael Hagemann; Franz X. Kärtner

doi:10.1117/12.2628989

29 August 2022 Femtosecond precision optical frequency and timing distribution for radio astronomy

Kemal Şafak, Anan Dai, Michael Hagemann, Franz X. Kärtner

Proceedings Volume 12188, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation V; 121885G (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2628989
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2022, Montréal, Québec, Canada

Conference Poster

Abstract

Frequency and timing (F&T) distribution systems are the backbone of astronomical telescopes providing the required temporal resolution for challenging space missions. Currently, most telescope networks and arrays employ conventional distribution systems based on electronic detection and coaxial distribution which limits the long-term frequency stability to typically < 1×10^-15 at 1000 s¹. Recently, optical F&T distribution systems have been developed and successfully implemented in large scale laser facilities providing residual femtosecond timing jitter and drift². In this paper, we review optical F&T distribution methods based on continuous wave (CW) and pulsed lasers and their feasibility for radio astronomy. We present experimental results on the F&T distribution performance of fiber links stabilized by both methods. Our CW link reaches 4.1×10^-17 at 1000 s for microwave transmission, whereas our pulsed link achieves 2.1× 10^-17 at 1000 s for microwave transmission and 1.2×10^-18 at 1000 s for optical timing transmission. Finally, we conclude the paper with a trade-off analysis between these two methods.

Citation Download Citation

Kemal Şafak, Anan Dai, Michael Hagemann, and Franz X. Kärtner "Femtosecond precision optical frequency and timing distribution for radio astronomy", Proc. SPIE 12188, Advances in Optical and Mechanical Technologies for Telescopes and Instrumentation V, 121885G (29 August 2022); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2628989

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