#precisiontimeprotocol

Telecom photons and weak coherent pulses achieve sub-nanosecond precision in quantum clock synchronization. Hong–Ou–Mandel (HOM) interferometry and high-repetition-rate weak coherent pulses (WCPs) are used by the University of Tennessee to demonstrate a quantum-enhanced clock synchronization technique that can meet future quantum networks' picosecond timing requirements.

Remote device timekeeping is a major difficulty for emerging networked technologies and secure communication systems. Popular classical protocols like Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) are used, however they cannot provide the high precision needed for quantum repeater network entanglement switching and are sensitive to asymmetric channel delays. The unique method uses attenuated WCPs and the Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) effect to solve the problem. Noah Crum, Md Mehdi Hassan, and George Siopsis devised and quantified it. This strategy seeks precision and security not available with existing protocols.

Protocol and Results

The protocol centers on Alice and Bob, two distant parties. Their local clocks (Clock A and Clock B) are offset unknown. Alice and Bob generate interference at a 50/50 beamsplitter by sending photons with BB84 polarization states. Synchronization is achieved by minimizing coincidence detection occurrences via the HOM effect, which is sensitive to photon arrival time at the beam splitter. Calculating the probability of interference as a function of the relative arrival time can determine the relative timing of the two clocks. Protocol uses bidirectional temporal exchange to remove uncertain channel propagation delay. Assuming channel reciprocity (the same propagation time both ways) and adding pulse expressions from both directions (Alice to Bob and Bob to Alice), the unknown channel delays cancel out. The final clock offset is determined using quantitative and local quantities. The pulse index differences (k and k') were found by finding the highest HOM suppression (the “dip”). The simulation used realistic parameters like: Telecom photons shine at 1550 nm. A 10.0 ns temporal width and 10 MHz repetition rate. Effective mean photon number is 1.0. 150 ps timing jitter and 85% detection efficiency. A 10-km 0.2 dB/km fiber link. The protocol revealed a genuine clock offset of 230.456 ns, while the estimated clock offset under simulated conditions was 230.462 \pm 0.027 ns. An impressive 6.205 ps accuracy and 26.71 ps standard error resulted.

SPDC Source Benefits

We previously demonstrated high-precision quantum clock synchronization using frequency-correlated spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) photon pairs. SPDC schemes are limited by its stochasticity and low pair production rates (100–450 kHz photon pairs). Pulsed laser diodes can repeat several orders of magnitude faster than these pair creation rates. However, attenuated WCPs can generate pulse trains with repetition rates of tens of MHz, allowing for more synchronization trials each measurement interval. Additionally, WCP-based synchronization outperforms single-photon systems in transmission distance. The mean photon number ($mu$) can be modified over orders of magnitude to compensate for fibre attenuation. The transmission distance can be extended without affecting the HOM dip if the mean number of photons arriving at the interferometer remains 1. Security Mechanisms The protocol leverages BB84 polarisation states for security. Classical post-selection maintains only events where Alice and Bob used the same polarisation basis, allowing source verification even for WCP sources that emit multi-photon pulses. Identifying Intercept-Resend (IR) Attacks: Eve, the eavesdropper, studies the pulse's polarisation and retransmits it, adding flaws that increase the coincidence rate. Parties can compare the post-selected coincidence rate to the theoretical minimum to discover disruptions. The IR assault quantifies eavesdropping by methodically raising the coincidence floor over the honest level. Fighting Photon-Number Splitting (PNS) Attacks: Eve measures the number of photons and diverts one to detect the polarization of weak coherent sources. Post-selection can be avoided, but the clock offset cannot be directly recovered. PNS attempts should be identified using the decoy-state method while retaining source authentication. Interleaving signal pulses with decoy pulses of increasing and decreasing intensity allows Alice and Bob to determine the channel's photon-number distribution and recognize PNS assault indicators. Channel Asymmetry Resolution The protocol strongly assumes channel reciprocity, or equal forward and backward propagation times throughout the fibre. Chromatic dispersion, polarization-mode dispersion, environmental changes (such dynamic temperature gradients), and adversary manipulation can break this assumption in real networks and skew clock offset results. Alice and Bob can reduce this with ongoing observation and compensation: Periodic calibration uses probe pulses emitted in both directions at various wavelengths to estimate the propagation time difference from the clock offset computation. Strong conventional calibration pulses, such as those at 1310 nm, are interleaved at a wavelength outside the quantum channel to actively monitor propagation asymmetry in real time and provide modifications into the HOM timing analysis. The researchers expect this WCP-based method to be the proven timing foundation of quantum repeater networks, where accurate and safe clock synchronization is essential. An immediate demonstration experiment with 10–50 km of deployed fiber is needed.