Timing accuracy of the GEO 600 data acquisition system

This paper describes the tests done for validating the timing accuracy of the GEO 600 data acquisition system. Correct time stamping of the recorded data is required for a number of search algorithms for gravitational wave signals (coincidence analysis, targeted pulsar searches, etc). Tests on the current system determined the absolute timing offset to be 15.89 µs with a standard deviation of 63 ns. Both offset and jitter were measured against an external reference clock. Additional analysis of data recorded during the S1 data taking run was done to validate the timing accuracy during this period.