2015/12/07 by Paul Berceau, M. G. G. T. Taylor, Michael Taylor +4 · 24 citations
Medicine · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Frequency and Time Standards #Aerospace engineering #Atomic and Subatomic Physics Research #Atomic clock #Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders #Clock synchronization #Computer science #Frame (networking) #GNSS applications #Optics #Orbit (dynamics) #Orbit determination #Physics #Reference frame #Satellite #Spacecraft #Synchronization (alternating current) #Synchronizing #Telecommunications #Time transfer #astro-ph.IM #gr-qc
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0264-9381/33/13/135007
published in Classical and Quantum Gravity 33(13), 135007 (IOP Publishing)
arxiv created 2015/12/07 · openalex publication_date 2016/05/31 · arxiv updated 2016/06/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
We describe a concept for realizing a high performance space-time reference using a stable atomic clock in a precisely defined orbit and synchronizing the orbiting clock to high-accuracy atomic clocks on the ground. The synchronization would be accomplished using a two-way lasercom link between ground and space. The basic approach is to take advantage of the highest-performance cold-atom atomic clocks at national standards laboratories on the ground and to transfer that performance to an orbiting clock that has good stability and that serves as a 'frequency-flywheel' over time-scales of a few hours. The two-way lasercom link would also provide precise range information and thus precise orbit determination. With a well-defined orbit and a synchronized clock, the satellite could serve as a high-accuracy space-time reference, providing precise time worldwide, a valuable reference frame for geodesy, and independent high-accuracy measurements of GNSS clocks. Under reasonable assumptions, a practical system would be able to deliver picosecond timing worldwide and millimeter orbit determination, and could serve as an enabling subsystem for other proposed space-gravity missions, which are briefly reviewed.