Note: Space qualified photon counting detector for laser time transfer with picosecond precision and stability

Area of Science:

• Space Technology
• Quantum Metrology
• Photonics

Background:

• The European Space Agency's Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space project requires advanced technology for precise time transfer.
• Laser time transfer links necessitate highly stable and reliable components for space missions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a photon counting detector for the space-based laser time transfer link.
• To ensure the detector meets the mission's stringent requirements for ruggedness, compactness, and picosecond-level delay stability.

Main Methods:

• Development of a compact and rugged detector package.
• Testing of the photon counting detector's long-term detection delay stability.
• Evaluation of the detector's performance across a wide temperature range.

Main Results:

• The photon counting detector achieved long-term detection delay stability better than ±1 ps/day.
• Time deviation was less than 0.5 ps for averaging times from 2000 seconds to several hours.
• The device demonstrated excellent performance within a -55°C to +60°C temperature range, with a delay change of +0.5 ps/K.

Conclusions:

• The developed photon counting detector is rugged, compact, and exhibits exceptional long-term delay stability.
• The device successfully passed all space mission tests for low Earth orbits.
• The detector is ready for integration into the space structure for the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space mission.