A high precision phase measurement system implemented in FPGA with phase interpolator.

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Engineering
• Computer Science

Background:

• High-precision timing distribution is essential for large-scale cosmology and particle physics experiments, enabling accurate event reconstruction.
• Accurate clock phase measurement is critical for monitoring phase drift and performing precise adjustments in timing distribution systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and implement a novel phase measurement method using Xilinx Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs).
• To achieve sub-picosecond level precision in clock phase measurement for advanced physics experiments.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a novel phase measurement technique utilizing the dedicated phase interpolator within a multi-gigabit transceiver.
• Design and implementation of the method on a Kintex Ultrascale series FPGA.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of a sub-picosecond level precision in phase measurement.
• Successful measurement of the nonlinearity in phase adjustment within the Xilinx transceiver.

Conclusions:

• The developed FPGA-based method offers a highly precise solution for clock phase measurement.
• This technology is applicable to demanding timing requirements in large-scale physics and cosmology research.