Fiber-based multiple access timing signal synchronization technique**Project supported by the National Key Scientific Instrument and Equipment Development Project of China (Grant No. 2013YQ09094303) and the Program of International Science and Technology Cooperation (Grant No. 2016YFE0100200).

Abstract

A fiber-based, multiple access timing signal synchronization scheme is demonstrated. By coupling out the bidirectional transmission signals, a highly stable timing signal can be recovered at arbitrary points along the fiber with the help of the loop delay message broadcasted via ethernet from the local module. The experiment is carried out on a 30-km fiber placed in a temperature-controlled box. In one-day period, when the round trip fiber transfer delay fluctuation is 60 ns, the fluctuations of the stabilized timing signal from the download and the remote modules were only ±125 ps and ±100 ps, respectively. Also, the system error caused by transmission path asymmetry and thermal drift is calibrated, and a 100-ps magnitude synchronization accuracy is realized. This method could provide new insights into the construction of a fiber-based time transfer network.