Eavesdropping Time and Frequency: Phase Noise Cancellation Along A Time-Varying Path, Such As An Optical Fiber
Eavesdropping Time and Frequency: Phase Noise Cancellation Along A Time-Varying Path, Such As An Optical Fiber
Eavesdropping Time and Frequency: Phase Noise Cancellation Along A Time-Varying Path, Such As An Optical Fiber
Optical frequency references and clocks have achieved enable high-fidelity distribution of frequency or time even
an unprecedented accuracy of better than 1 part in 1017 for large-area science projects, such as radio telescope
[1,2], with an instability near 1 part in 1018 [3]. They are arrays [7] or national metrology networks.
formidable tools for precision experiments, which often To explain the basic idea, we first consider the existing
rely on converting the quantity to be measured into a fre- scheme for point-to-point stabilization. Figure 1 shows a
quency. Some of the most fundamental questions in phys- commonly implemented and well-characterized method
ics relate to quantities of energy, space, and time, and for phase-stable transmission of an ultrastable optical
these quantities are directly related to frequency (and/or frequency νlocal from a local point A to a remote point Z
phase). This makes experiments probing fundamental [8–10,12,20]. Analogous, earlier designs enable the phase-
questions accessible to frequency or phase measurements, stable transmission of radio frequency [21,22] or pulsed
for example testing for time variations of fundamental [23] signals. The method is reminiscent of [11,24] (though
constants [4] or large-area Sagnac interferometers [5]. A different) and can be understood by viewing the entire
prominent example is relativistic geodesy, that is, the transmission path from A to the mirror at Z as the long
measurement of gravitational redshift with optical clocks arm of an interferometer.
[6]. We therefore wish to transfer timing or frequency We denote by Δϕij the phase shift experienced by a
signals to other experimental sites, enabling applications signal travelling from any point i to point j and assume
outside metrology [4–7]. symmetry of the transmission path: Δϕij Δϕji . The
To date, efforts have focused on long-distance connec- acousto-optic modulator (AOM) AOM2 provides a fixed
tions [8–10] between just two points, one “remote” lab frequency shift to distinguish light that has reached the
and one “local” lab connected by an optical fiber, using mirror at Z from light reflected anywhere else along the
methods similar to that proposed in 1994 by Ma et al. [11] transmission path. At photodetector DetA, the returned
to correct phase perturbations between the local and light is superimposed with local light traveling through
remote end. For example, we have transmitted optical a short reference arm. This yields a beat signal with
frequencies with a relative accuracy of 10−19 over 146 km frequency
deployed fiber [12] and remotely characterized optical
clock lasers online with hertz-level resolution [13]. f DetA 2f AOM1 Δϕ_ AZ ∕2π f AOM2
Significant efforts are now underway to establish na-
tional and even international metrology fiber networks. and phase reflecting the momentary phase difference be-
One important question [14–19] is how to distribute tween the two interferometer arms. The beat signal f DetA
reference frequencies to many users simultaneously in is compared to a synthesized signal at frequency f synth
a cost-effective way. Surprisingly, with one point-to-point with a phase-frequency comparator [21] or a simple
connection (such as a long stabilized fiber), we can mixer. A servo acts on the phase and frequency of AOM1
“tap” this fiber anywhere and locally derive a reference to maintain a constant phase difference between the
frequency with the same precision as that achieved at beat signal and the synthesizer signal, resulting in a fixed
the end point [18]. We present the patented concept, phase relationship (modulo the frequency offset f synth ∕2)
an experimental setup achieving relative frequency insta- between light at point Z and at point A. Thus the
bility of 10−19 , and several extensions of the idea; these frequency delivered to point Z is given by νZ νlocal
include a branching design and the multipoint dissemina- f synth ∕2 νA f synth ∕2.
tion of time using two-way transfer. The methods To generate a phase-stable signal at an intermediate
complement the Ethernet-based “White Rabbit” [19] and point C along the transmission path, we now tap the
0146-9592/14/092545-04$15.00/0 © 2014 Optical Society of America
2546 OPTICS LETTERS / Vol. 39, No. 9 / May 1, 2014
A B ∆φBC C
∆φCZ νZ
Z
link at small extra cost for each. While [16] introduces
νlocal AOM1 AOM2 extra frequencies, here the main link is unchanged.
mirror The signal processing is a simple and robust feed-forward
fAOM1 fAOM2
servo synthesizer
system, which automatically works continuously and
DetA ~ fsynth ν Z = ν local+ fsynth /2 remote allows a free choice of correction bandwidth; in contrast
to [16,17] it requires no additional stabilization.
Fig. 1. Stabilized fiber link connecting the remote point Z with Furthermore, high-power ultrastable light can be made
the local point A. For a detailed discussion, see for instance available [18]. If we wish to preserve optical power in the
[8,20]. main link, asymmetric beam splitters or tap couplers ex-
tract only a small percentage of the light. The extracted
transmitted signal in both directions. Figures 1 and 2 and power may be boosted, for example with an erbium-
the analysis describe in detail one implementation ([18], doped fiber amplifier before detector DetC. Alternatively,
p. 2); similar setups are suitable for periodically modu- the weak (∼μW) extracted signals are first superimposed
lated or pulsed signals [18]. Here the terminology of with light from a laser at frequency νL0 giving two strong
optical frequency transfer is used. heterodyne beat signals νb − νL0 and νf − νL0 . Their differ-
The forward propagating light has frequency ence frequency is again νb − νf and is independent of νL0
and its fluctuations. As before, after division by two, it
νf : νC−f νA f AOM1 ΔϕAC ∕2π; may serve as a correction frequency. Alternatively, if
the mean frequency of the two heterodyne beat signals,
whereas backward propagating light has frequency νb − νL0 νf − νL0 ∕2, is added as a correction to νL0
(e.g., via an AOM), we obtain ultrastable, high-power
laser light at frequency νL νZ .
νb : νC−b νA f AOM1 Δϕ_ AZ ∕2π 2f AOM2 Δϕ_ ZC ∕2π: Key advantages of the scheme are its simple installa-
tion and its monitoring capability. By locating point Z
We superimpose forward- and backward propagating in a second metrology lab, or even next to the input, thus
light on photodetector DetC (here ignoring noise beyond forming a loop A–Z, the main link stabilization may be
the tapping point) to generate a beat signal at frequency tested and optimized to reach the physical limits [20]
and to verify its accuracy. Later, the same setup monitors
νb − νf Δϕ_ CZ ∕2π 2f AOM2 Δϕ_ ZC ∕2π the link performance and allows online verification and
2Δϕ_ CZ ∕2π f AOM2 : (1) assessment of the frequency distribution.
The new scheme was tested using a narrow-linewidth
(<5 kHz) optical source (Koheras Adjustik fiber laser) at
The beat signal is amplified and its frequency digitally
a frequency near 194.3 THz, on a short but intrinsically
divided by two. Applying this as a correction frequency
noisy fiber link. This allows exploring the fiber noise
f corr : νb − νf ∕2 to the forward propagating light at
suppression and detecting system noise contributions.
point C, for instance using another AOM, we obtain a
Our test link is a combination of a 10 m spool wound
stable signal at point C:
around a thin metal drum and 100 m exposed fiber going
to another laboratory (some 40 m away) and back. Point
νC-out νf f corr νZ νlocal f synth ∕2: C is located at the input of the 100 m fiber. Touching or
wriggling this fiber, or the fiber section wound around
This can be viewed as detecting at point C the addi- the drum, introduces massive phase noise, visible as a
tional phase shift between points C and Z, and applying beat linewidth of several kilohertz. In initial, separate ex-
this to the signal coupled out at point C, so that its fre- periments, which served to verify the new scheme, we
quency and phase follow those of the signal at point Z. also used an AOM to introduce large and well-defined
The output at point C is thus ideally as stable as νZ . Since perturbations.
νZ νb νf ∕2, applying −f corr to the backward propa- The overall configuration is as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
gating light at point C also yields νZ [15,18]. but with the remote point Z and local point A located in
The design has several useful properties. Many access the same laboratory. We stabilize A → Z with the stan-
points D, E, … may be operated along a single stabilized dard scheme and measure the remote frequency νZ . We
also record the output frequency νC-out at the intermedi-
ate point C using the new scheme, and, additionally, the
frequency correction f corr applied to the AOM at point
C. f corr shows the fluctuations of the free-running link be-
tween points C and Z. All beat frequencies are recorded
with totalizing counters (Kramer + Klische FXE; Π–type
operation [25]), to give a time sequence of frequency
values from which we calculate the frequency instability
(Allan deviation, ADEV, [25]).
Open diamonds in Fig. 3 show the frequency instability
at point C when implementing the new scheme as
Fig. 2. Signal generation at point C, from signals tapped in shown in Figs. 1 and 2: νC-out reaches a relative instability
forward and backward directions, with frequencies νf and νb . (ADEV in >10 kHz bandwidth) of 10−17 after 1000 s.
May 1, 2014 / Vol. 39, No. 9 / OPTICS LETTERS 2547
synchronization, that is clockZ0 clockA, so both end 9. O. Lopez, A. Haboucha, B. Chanteau, C. Chardonnet, A.
points can send a signal at the same time and know Amy-Klein, and G. Santarelli, Opt. Express 20, 23518 (2012).
τAZ . Now we tap these forward and backward travelling 10. K. Predehl, G. Grosche, S. M. F. Raupach, S. Droste, O.
signals, at any point B (here chosen closer to A than Z), Terra, J. Alnis, T. Legero, T. W. Hänsch, T. Udem, R.
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delay the forward extracted signal at B by 1∕2TICB, (1994).
12. G. Grosche, O. Terra, K. Predehl, R. Holzwarth, B.
it will exit our apparatus at point B at tS Bout
Lipphardt, F. Vogt, U. Sterr, and H. Schnatz, Opt. Lett.
τAB τZB − τAB ∕2 τAZ ∕2, in the timescale given by
34, 2270 (2009).
clockA (and clockZ0 ). Note that all points along a link 13. A. Pape, O. Terra, J. Friebe, M. Riedmann, T. Wübbena,
can be synchronized to each other without τAZ being E. M. Rasel, K. Predehl, T. Legero, B. Lipphardt, H. Schnatz,
known, or even stable, simply by eavesdropping: all and G. Grosche, Opt. Express 18, 21477 (2010).
points experience the same offset τAZ ∕2. They share 14. C. Gao, B. Wang, W. L. Chen, Y. Bai, J. Miao, X. Zhu, T. C. Li,
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using very little extra instrumentation—make available 18. G. Grosche, “Verfahren zum Bereitstellen einer Referenz-
at intermediate points along or near a transmission path Frequenz,” German patent DE 200810062139 (June 24,
the same timing or frequency signals that previously 2010).
could only be delivered to its end points. Specifically, 19. http://www.ohwr.org/projects/white‑rabbit.
20. P. A. Williams, W. C. Swann, and N. R. Newbury, J. Opt. Soc.
for applications requiring the highest precision, we dem-
Am. B 25, 1284 (2008).
onstrated delivering an optical frequency to an intermedi-
21. M. Musha, Y. Sato, K. Nakagawa, K. Ueda, A. Ueda, and M.
ate point with relative instability 1 × 10−17 (10 s) and 10−19
Ishiguro, Appl. Phys. B. 82, 555 (2006).
(10000 s). An improved branching design reaches users 22. F. Narbonneau, M. Lours, S. Bize, A. Clairon, G. Santarelli,
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and frequency dissemination to many users. The idea 23. G. Marra, H. S. Margolis, and D. J. Richardson, Opt. Express
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outlined how to apply it, for example, to classic two-way 24. J. Ye, J. L. Peng, R. J. Jones, K. W. Holman, J. L. Hall, D. J.
time and frequency transfer links with intermediate Jones, S. A. Diddams, J. Kitching, S. Bize, J. C. Bergquist,
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for their indefatigable enthusiasm and openness to new
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ideas, to the authors of [11] for lucid writing, and to the 26. G. Grosche, B. Lipphardt, and H. Schnatz, Eur. Phys. J. D
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 407 and QUEST, 48, 27 (2008).
Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time 27. A. Bercy, S. Guellati-Khelifa, F. Stefani, G. Santarelli, C.
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support. Opt. Soc. Am. B 31, 678 (2014).
28. S. M. F. Raupach and G. Grosche, “Chirped frequency
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