Digital implementation of a two-way coherent phase transfer over optical fiber for remote clocks comparisons

Abstract

We performed a two-way remote optical phase comparison on optical fiber. Two optical frequency signals were launched in opposite directions in an optical fiber and their phases were simultaneously measured at the other end. In this technique, the fiber noise is passively cancelled, and we compared two optical frequencies at the ultimate 10-21 stability level. The experiment was performed on a 47km fiber that is part of the metropolitan network for Internet traffic. The technique relies on the synchronous measurement of the optical phases at the two ends of the link, that is here performed by digital electronics. This scheme offers some advantages with respect to active noise cancellation schemes, as the light travels only once in the fiber.