GÉANT Association aims to establish a fibre infrastructure for the distribution of time and frequency throughout Europe, with the implementation planned within the Horizon Europe GN5-2 funding cycle. These new fibre links will complement existing connections performing predominantly coherent optical frequency transfers, forming a basis of comprehensive Europe-wide infrastructure. This presentation will explore how this emerging fibre network will facilitate novel scientific research initiatives in Europe.
Moreover, the development of a pan-European fibre infrastructure will unlock opportunities for pioneering research in applied and fundamental science. This encompasses studies such as geodesy e.g. for underground water monitoring or unification of height systems across Europe, earthquake monitoring, the search for dark matter, and urban activity surveillance.
Achieving optimal synchronization accuracy between two White Rabbit devices hinges on the proper selection of transceivers, which act as electro-optical converters connecting WR devices to the optical network infrastructure. The correct choice of transceivers can significantly improve resilience to changes in the time offset between WR devices due to temperature fluctuations in the connecting optical fiber. To compare the performance of BiDi WDM and DWDM transceivers, an experimental setup was established under laboratory conditions to simulate a real optical network used for distributing precise time and frequency between two remote locations. The optical connection was emulated by integrating a 20 km G.652.D optical fiber into a climatic chamber, which provided variable environmental conditions similar to those experienced in real applications. The study compared BiDi WDM 1310/1550 nm transceivers with DWDM Ch33/Ch34 transceivers. Results showed that DWDM transceivers exhibited nearly thirteen times less sensitivity to temperature-induced changes in the optical connection, leading to a smaller time offset. Therefore, for achieving the highest accuracy in synchronizing WR devices in practical applications, DWDM transceiver technology is essential.
Precise time and stable radio frequency dissemination is becoming standard application in optical networks. The White Rabbit system is commonly used for this purpose to support applications that require precise time and a stable frequency signal. Optical fibers are preferred for distributing the precise time and frequency signal in this system. To achieve best results, i.e. determine absolute offsets, it is necessary to know the asymmetry of the optical transmission path in which the system is deployed. We developed a device based on a MEMS optical switch that measures the delay of the optical path in both the forward and reverse directions. These measurements are used to continuously evaluate changes in the asymmetry of the transmission path, and the resulting asymmetry can be used to calibrate the time transfer system.
In the ever-advancing realm of modern technology, the demand for unparalleled precision and stability in timekeeping and frequency control has surged to unprecedented heights. As our interconnected world rellies more than ever on intricate synchronization and seamless communication, the development of cutting-edge optical infrastructure has emerged as a cornerstone in meeting these exacting demands. There has been obvious increased continuous focus on precise time and frequency transmission dissemination at a national and international level recently. We would like to present the situation in the Czech Republic, our strategy, approach, and our experience with a non-commercial, costeffective solution that utilizes optical networks shared with other traffic. The presented solution provides accurate time and stable frequency at a lower operational cost, using the shared spectrum of the CESNET3 network infrastructure.
There has been an increased focus on precise time and frequency transmission dissemination at a national and international level recently. We would like to present the situation in the Czech Republic, our strategy, approach, and our experience with a non-commercial, cost-effective solution that utilizes shared optical networks. The presented solution provides accurate time and stable frequency at a lower operational cost, utilizing the shared spectrum of the CESNET3 network infrastructure. We are committed to future developments and upgrades that will include the next wavelength bands and geographic extensions. Additionally, we have implemented bidirectional dark channels on various wavebands, which utilize shared leased fibers and offer bidirectional compensation for fiber losses. However, operating precise time and frequency requires a single path with bidirectional amplification performed by optical amplifiers, which are sensitive to feedback from the fiber line induced by back-scattering, and reflections, and which can cause unwanted oscillations. We have addressed this issue by carefully solving the interference with parallel data transmissions. In summary, we have implemented a cost-effective solution for precise time and frequency dissemination in the Czech Republic, which utilizes shared optical networks. We are committed to future developments, and we are also part of a consortium that plans to realize a Pan-European network to offer time and frequency services to a broad range of users.
Precise Time and Frequency dissemination and its essential infrastructure on national or even international level are being focused recently. We present here the situation in Czechia, our strategy and approach to contribute with experience of non–commercial solution, open activity utilizing optical networks shared with other data traffic. The cost efficient solution of accurate time and very stable frequency is realized, and operated within shared spectrum of CESNET network infrastructure; the costs are under control then. We are focused on future developments, plans, upgrades concerning wavelength bands and geographic solutions and extensions. Bidirectional dark channels on various wavebands, we do realize them to utilize shared leased fibers, bidirectional compensation of the fiber losses is the benefit or must for these solutions. When operating precise Time and Frequency, single path with bidirectional amplification performed by optical amplifiers is preferred, however it is sensitive to feedbacks by fiber line, caused mainly by back scattering, reflections, and potential to cause unwanted oscillations. The interference with parallel data transmissions is the issue being carefully solved. Within this paper, we also briefly mention CLONETS Design Study project where we share the experience, and the consortium is about to plan and realize the coherent Pan-European Time and Frequency dissemination network to interconnect national research network, and to provide various Time and Frequency services for a wide range of users, research, non-commercial and commercial as well.
Precise time and ultra-stable optical frequency transfers over fiber networks are deployed relatively often these days. When size of such infrastructure for precise time and frequency bidirectional transmission is becoming significant, aspects associated with infrastructure operational cost and time needed for deployment of time and frequency transmission must be considered. First can be decreased via fiber sharing with telecommunication traffic, however spectral allocation must be considered carefully to avoid mutual disturbance of time and frequency transmission versus data and allow future accommodation of growing demands. In text, we show and discuss alternative spectral bands to be used for time and frequency transmission. Time to deployment can be quite excessive especially when transmission must be established via multiple networks or network domains, also there is a chance of blocking. In case of precise time and optical radio frequency transmission it is possible to use conversion from optical to electrical and back to optical domain with wavelength change. This possibility removes danger of blocking and improves time to deployment for such services. We also address possibility to change wavelength or just extend reach by using simple re-amplify and reshape approach.
Article summarizes past and continuous development, and especially current state of Czech national research infrastructure for Clock Network Services and future development plans. The focus is on used transmission means and stabilization techniques, available and planned wavelength bands and also plans for geographic extensions.
The paper focuses on showing past, current and ready to start time and frequency (metrology) projects taking place in Europe aimed to long haul time and frequency transfers over optical fibers. It addresses both EURAMET and Horizon2020 projects’ scope. Focus will be given to Coordination and Support Action project CLOck NETwork Services (CLONETS) - Strategy and innovation for clock services over optical-fibre networks and proposed subsequent design study CLONETS-DS. Attention will be given also to effort of Research and Education Networks (NRENs) as pioneer network operators into this field.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.