Two way time transfer with picoseconds precision and accuracy

The first results of a two way time transfer between two timing devices over modest distances with sub-ps precision and a few ps accuracy were the major tasks of this work. The two way time transfer scheme employing a single coaxial cable was applied. Based on our previous results we have designed and constructed a timing device which allows registration of Times of Arrivals of pulses with sub-ps timing resolution, linearity, and stability. The concept of the timing devices enables to carry out time tagging of pulses of interest in parallel to the comparison of the time scales of these timing devices. The two timing devices were located in different laboratories and buildings within one institution. The common clock 5 MHz was referenced to a Cesium clock. The analysis of systematic errors contribution shows that the accuracy of the time transfer well below 10 ps may be achieved. The time transfer was accomplished over distances of the order of hundreds of meters. The main limitation for longer distances is the quality of the coaxial cable used for time transfer together with the amount of radiofrequency interference within the experiment.

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