Global Time Distribution via Satellite-Based Sources of Entangled Photons
arXiv:2209.15071 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.107.022615
Abstract
We propose a satellite-based scheme to perform clock synchronization between ground stations spread across the globe using quantum resources. We refer to this as a quantum clock synchronization (QCS) network. Through detailed numerical simulations, we assess the feasibility and capabilities of a near-term implementation of this scheme. We consider a small constellation of nanosatellites equipped only with modest resources. These include quantum devices such as spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) sources, avalanche photo-detectors (APDs), and moderately stable on-board clocks such as chip scale atomic clocks (CSACs). In our simulations, the various performance parameters describing the hardware have been chosen such that they are either already commercially available, or require only moderate advances. We conclude that with such a scheme establishing a global network of ground based clocks synchronized to sub-nanosecond level (up to a few picoseconds) of precision, would be feasible. Such QCS satellite constellations would form the infrastructure for a future quantum network, able to serve as a globally accessible entanglement resource. At the same time, our clock synchronization protocol, provides the sub-nanosecond level synchronization required for many quantum networking protocols, and thus, can be seen as adding an extra layer of utility to quantum technologies in the space domain designed for other purposes.
arXiv comment20 pages, 12 figures and 6 tables. Comments are welcome
References in corpus (23)
- Ground-to-satellite quantum teleportation
- Atomic clock performance beyond the geodetic limit
- Optical clock intercomparison with precision in one hour
- Quantum enhanced positioning and clock synchronization
- Quantum Clock Synchronization Based on Shared Prior Entanglement
- Distant Clock Synchronization Using Entangled Photon Pairs
- Fundamental quantum optics experiments conceivable with satellites -- reaching relativistic distances and velocities
- Synchronization of Distant Optical Clocks at the Femtosecond Level
- CubeSat quantum communications mission
- Satellite-mediated quantum atmospheric links
- SAGE: A Proposal for a Space Atomic Gravity Explorer
- Femtosecond Synchronization of Optical Clocks Off of a Flying Quadcopter
- Clock synchronization by remote detection of correlated photon pairs
- Spooky action at a global distance: analysis of space-based entanglement distribution for the quantum internet
- Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution for nonstandalone networks
- Towards satellite-based quantum-secure time transfer
- Remote quantum clock synchronization without synchronized clocks
- Gravitation and quantum interference experiments with neutrons
- Symmetrical clock synchronization with time-correlated photon pairs
- A Lorentz-invariant look at quantum clock synchronization protocols based on distributed entanglement
- Conveyor belt clock synchronization
- Relativistic frame-dragging and the Hong-Ou-Mandel dip a primitive to gravitational effects in multi-photon quantum-interference
- Weak Gravitational Field Effects On Large-Scale Optical Interferometric Bell Tests