Project: Accurate time/frequency comparison and dissemination through optical telecommunication networks

Optical atomic clocks could be used to redefine the second as they are more accurate than the microwave atomic clocks used today. However, the only way to check the performance of these optical atomic clocks is by comparing them with other atomic clocks, and the current satellite-based techniques for doing this are simply not accurate enough. This project will investigate techniques for comparing remote optical clocks, separated by distances of up to 1500 km. The project will study the fundamental limitations of optical fibre links and aims to reduce the contribution of these links to the uncertainty of the frequency calibration. As well as contributing to a redefinition of the second and fundamental physics experiments, the dissemination of atomic time through optical fibres could also provide a backup for GPS timing in power grids and mobile telecommunications networks.

Acronym	SIB02 NEAT-FT (Reference Number: SIB02)
Duration	01/06/2012 - 31/05/2015
Project Topic	Metrology
Project Results (after finalisation)	See Website
Website	visit project website
Network	EMRP
Call	EMRP Call 2011 - Health, SI Broader Scope and New Technologies

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt	Coordinator	Germany
2	Physikalisch-Technischer Pruefdienst des Bundesamt fuer Eich- und Vermessungswesen	Partner	Austria
3	Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica	Partner	Italy
4	Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy	Partner	Finland
5	NPL Management Limited	Partner	United Kingdom
6	Observatoire de Paris	Partner	France
7	SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut AB	Partner	Sweden
8	Ústav fotoniky a elektroniky AV ČR, v. v. i.	Partner	Czech Republic
9	VSL B.V.	Partner	Netherlands
10	CESNET, Zajmove Sdruzeni Pravnickych OSOB	Observer	Czech Republic