Carrier Phase TWSTFT for increased accuracy of UTC-UTC(SP)
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB - Mätteknik Borås |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 1 200 000 |
| Project duration | December 2020 - August 2024 |
| Status | Completed |
Important results from the project
To meet increased requirements and better future national timekeeping, it is necessary to measure on the TWSTFT carrier phase in addition to traditional code measurements that are done routinely today. The project aimed to increase metrological knowledge and had two main goals: a) to enable phase measurements in our TWSTFT environment and to use carrier wave methods for our comparison with UTC, and b) to be able in the future to also use phase measurements in a passive mode as a robust alternative to GNSS for time distribution. The project increased our knowledge of this technology.
Expected long term effects
The project has studied characteristics of the TW carrier in Ku-band. We have set requirements and prepared two new ground stations at RISE to reliably measure the TW carrier phase in the future. We have worked with an existing SDR implementation and have established a development environment for future development of TWSTFT for both active and passive use. We expect to continue in international cooperation in a new EPM project to implement phase measurements for metrological use, as well as the possibility of creating a service for passive distribution of time and frequency with TWSTFT.
Approach and implementation
The project revolved around our existing metrological infrastructure and its capabilities. The design and construction of new ground stations has been influenced by the studies on phase measurements and will utilize linking UTC(SP) to UTC with higher quality. Increasing knowledge about SDR and DSP for TSWTFT is an important part of being able to make supplier-independent TWSTFT measurements in the future. This is also a prerequisite for developing a future service for time distribution to industry and society with TWSTFT. New international cooperation has been established.