In this paper we investigate methods to achieve highly accurate time synchronization among the satellites of the COMPASS global navigation satellite system(GNSS).Owing to the special design of COMPASS which implements...In this paper we investigate methods to achieve highly accurate time synchronization among the satellites of the COMPASS global navigation satellite system(GNSS).Owing to the special design of COMPASS which implements several geo-stationary satellites(GEO),time synchronization can be highly accurate via microwave links between ground stations to the GEO satellites.Serving as space-borne relay stations,the GEO satellites can further disseminate time and frequency signals to other satellites such as the inclined geo-synchronous(IGSO)and mid-earth orbit(MEO)satellites within the system.It is shown that,because of the accuracy in clock synchronization,the theoretical accuracy of COMPASS positioning and navigation will surpass that of the GPS.In addition,the COMPASS system can function with its entire positioning,navigation,and time-dissemination services even without the ground link,thus making it much more robust and secure.We further show that time dissemination using the COMPASS-GEO satellites to earth-fixed stations can achieve very high accuracy,to reach 100 ps in time dissemination and 3 cm in positioning accuracy,respectively.In this paper,we also analyze two feasible synchronization plans.All special and general relativistic effects related to COMPASS clocks frequency and time shifts are given.We conclude that COMPASS can reach centimeter-level positioning accuracy and discuss potential applications.展开更多
A time and frequency system is a critical component of Very Long Baseline Interferometry(VLBI)stations,providing stable and reliable standards that directly impact data processing quality.At the Tianma 65 m radio tele...A time and frequency system is a critical component of Very Long Baseline Interferometry(VLBI)stations,providing stable and reliable standards that directly impact data processing quality.At the Tianma 65 m radio telescope(TMRT),this system has been meticulously designed to ensure long-term reliability and high performance.It incorporates high-performance hydrogen atomic clocks,high-precision time standards,automatic signal switching,and robust system software.This comprehensive approach has enabled the system to achieve long-term reliable operation,successfully supporting both major national engineering tasks and daily scientific observations.The effectiveness of the system is evidenced by its consistent delivery of the precision and stability required for radio astronomy.This article provides an in-depth exploration of the design and operation of the time and frequency system at the Tianma 65 m telescope,examining various aspects of its architecture,implementation,and performance.By sharing these insights,we aim to contribute knowledge that could benefit similar systems at other VLBI stations,greatly advancing radio astronomy infrastructure.展开更多
基金supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Grant No.2010CB922901)Tsinghua University under its Scientific Research Initiative Program(Grant No.20091081474)a special research fund from the National Institute of Metrology of China(NIM)
文摘In this paper we investigate methods to achieve highly accurate time synchronization among the satellites of the COMPASS global navigation satellite system(GNSS).Owing to the special design of COMPASS which implements several geo-stationary satellites(GEO),time synchronization can be highly accurate via microwave links between ground stations to the GEO satellites.Serving as space-borne relay stations,the GEO satellites can further disseminate time and frequency signals to other satellites such as the inclined geo-synchronous(IGSO)and mid-earth orbit(MEO)satellites within the system.It is shown that,because of the accuracy in clock synchronization,the theoretical accuracy of COMPASS positioning and navigation will surpass that of the GPS.In addition,the COMPASS system can function with its entire positioning,navigation,and time-dissemination services even without the ground link,thus making it much more robust and secure.We further show that time dissemination using the COMPASS-GEO satellites to earth-fixed stations can achieve very high accuracy,to reach 100 ps in time dissemination and 3 cm in positioning accuracy,respectively.In this paper,we also analyze two feasible synchronization plans.All special and general relativistic effects related to COMPASS clocks frequency and time shifts are given.We conclude that COMPASS can reach centimeter-level positioning accuracy and discuss potential applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China(12273098).
文摘A time and frequency system is a critical component of Very Long Baseline Interferometry(VLBI)stations,providing stable and reliable standards that directly impact data processing quality.At the Tianma 65 m radio telescope(TMRT),this system has been meticulously designed to ensure long-term reliability and high performance.It incorporates high-performance hydrogen atomic clocks,high-precision time standards,automatic signal switching,and robust system software.This comprehensive approach has enabled the system to achieve long-term reliable operation,successfully supporting both major national engineering tasks and daily scientific observations.The effectiveness of the system is evidenced by its consistent delivery of the precision and stability required for radio astronomy.This article provides an in-depth exploration of the design and operation of the time and frequency system at the Tianma 65 m telescope,examining various aspects of its architecture,implementation,and performance.By sharing these insights,we aim to contribute knowledge that could benefit similar systems at other VLBI stations,greatly advancing radio astronomy infrastructure.
