Interface for quantum clock links – IQ-CLIK

精确的定时是现代基础设施各个方面的关键，从国家电网到电信，到金融交易，再到全球，国家和个人导航系统。在电信领域，一个合适的同步网络至关重要。光学原子钟通常被称为“量子钟”，可以提供前所未有的准确性和稳定性，与任何现有的商业时钟相比，其性能提高了几个数量级。为了利用高精度和稳定性的定时和通信基础设施，输出信号需要尽可能无损地转换为电信网络中常用的信号。为了解决这一挑战，在IQ-CLIK中，我们研究了时钟到网络接口的性能，以及最先进的可移动光学原子钟和几公里长的电信光纤链路。亚纳秒量子钟辅助时间传播的额外建模将使我们能够了解将此类技术集成到国家计时和通信基础设施中所涉及的可扩展性和成本。由于5G已经接近当前技术的网络计时极限，因此需要一种新的方法来满足未来的网络应用。因此，我们的项目IQ-CLIK将有助于指导在通信网络中使用光学原子钟的方式，以提供更高的网络定时精度。我们的研究不仅探讨了量子支持的网络定时在长期内用于超5G网络的可行性，而且还为具有弹性的关键国家基础设施提供了精确定时链路的短期到中期好处。这样，英国对由于不利的空间天气或大规模人为干扰而失去全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）的免疫力将大大提高。

Precision timing is key to all aspects of modern infrastructure, from the national grid, to telecommunications, to financial trading, through to global, national, and individual navigation systems. In the case of telecommunications, a suitable timing network for synchronisation is crucial.Optical atomic clocks, frequently referred to as "quantum clocks", can provide timing with unprecedented accuracy and stability with improvements of several orders of magnitude when compared to any currently available commercial clock. In order to harness the extreme accuracy and stability for timing and communication infrastructure, the output signal needs to be converted as loss-less as possible into signals commonly used in telecommunication networks.To address this challenge, in IQ-CLIK, we investigate the performance of a clock-to-network interface in conjunction with a state-of-the art transportable optical atomic clock and a telecom fibre link of several kilometres of length. Additional modelling of sub-nanosecond quantum clock-assisted time dissemination will allows us to understand the scalability and costs involved in integrating such technology into national timing and communication infrastructure.As 5G has approached the limit for network timing with current technology, a new approach is needed to meet future network applications. Hence, our project IQ-CLIK will help guiding the way to using optical atomic clocks in communication networks to provide improved network timing precision. Not only does our study explore the feasibility of quantum-supported network timing for beyond-5G networks in the long term, but it also provides the short to medium term benefits of precision timing links for a resilient critical national infrastructure. This way, the UK's immunity to the loss of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) due to unfavourable space weather or large-scale man-made interferences could be dramatically boosted.