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Space-Time Referencing: Atomic Clocks, Laser Links and Applications

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  • Author: Leo Hollberg, Nathan R. Newbury, Ian Coddington, Jean-Daniel Deschenes, Laura Sinclair, Kurt Gibble4, Penina Axelrad, Michael Taylor, and Sascha Schediwy
A Space-Time Reference (STR) frame that has exceptional performance could be realized using an advanced atomic clock in a well-defined orbit that is periodically connected to the highestperformance atomic clocks on the ground using two-way Doppler-canceling laser links. The two-way laser links would also provide precise range information and thus precise orbit determination (POD).i With a well-defined orbit and a synchronized clock, the satellite could serve as a high-accuracy reference providing accurate Time1 worldwide, an exceptional reference frame for geodesy, and independent high-accuracy measurements of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) clocks. The STR would be able to deliver sub-picosecond timing worldwide with < 1 millimeter range determination and could serve as an enabling subsystem for other proposed space-gravity missions. That would represent an improvement over GNSS (e.g. GPS) by a factor of > 1000 in timing and > 100 in range
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