Optical Techniques for Time and Frequency Transfer,
Abstract
Light has been used as a mean for time synchronization for a long time. The flight time was supposed to be negligible. The first scientific determination of the velocity of the light was done by measuring a round trip flight time on a given distance (France 1849). The well known frying clock experiment leading to Einstein General Relativity is another example (1905). The advent of lasers, particularly short pulse and modulated ones, as well as the improvements of the timing equipments have led to new concepts for time and frequency transfer. We describe in this paper some experiments using different techniques and configuration which have been proposed and tested in this field since the beginning of the space age. Added to that, we set out advantages, drawbacks and performances achieved in the different cases.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 02, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADP009101
Entities
People
- Francoise Baumont
- Jean Gaignebet
Organizations
- Paris Observatory, PSL University