Fiber-optic link for the RF phase reference distribution system for the XFEL and TESLA projects

The UV Free-Electron Laser (UVFEL) and The TeV-Energy Superconducting Linear Accelerator (TESLA) projects will require phase synchronization of 0.1 ps short term (millisecond), 1 ps short term (minutes) and 10 ps long term (days). The stringent synchronization requirement of 10fs was given for the X-Ray Free- Electron Laser (XFEL). To fufill this requirement the XFEL may use a fiber laser as reference generator. But this requirement applies for a special location only, therefore the RF phase reference distribution system developed UVFEL and TESLA will also be used in the XFEL. The RF phase reference distribution system must deliver phase stable signals to hundreds of stations over a length of 33 km. Long, optical fiber based links are planned to be an important part of the entire distribution system. This paper describes the concept of a long optical link, with a feedback system suppressing long term drifts of the RF signal phase. Stability requirements are given and most important design issues affecting system performance are discussed. Finally, an experimental setup and measurement results demonstrating system performance is shown.