David Mitlyng for Xairos

Long Distance Synchronization
Synchronization is easy for clocks in close proximity.
In fact, collocated systems tend to self-synchronize. This is why soldiers don’t walk in formation over bridges.
Clocks that are separated, but connected within a local network, can be synchronized with local time transfer techniques like Precision Time Protocol (PTP). 
But synchronizing two clocks separated by large distances are more challenging.
Terrestrial networks have a lot of "hops" between nodes that add to a timing budget.
Hence the importance of GPS, the world's first global time distribution system.
But GPS has an accuracy ceiling of 30 nanoseconds, which isn't good enough for future networks.
NIST has even launched a service to double that accuracy for a steep fee.
Space is the only way to provide global timing.

Last Week's Theme: Space + Time

• Last chance to join our Spaced Ventures fundraise! It closes tomorrow (Thursday, June 2) at 10 pm ET with a closing livestream at 2 pm ET. Please join us using this link to register.
• With this livestream we will show off the progress on our quantum clock synchronization (QCS) demonstration system and plans for future development.
• Wrapping up meetings at the ISC High Perfomance Computing conference in Hamburg, Germany. Also lots of good information from the virtual NASA Aeronautics Research Institute (NARI) PNT Workshop.
• In discussion with prominent industry experts to expand the team and add Quantum and Timing Advisors to our Board. Also developing a research partnership with a university quantum research lab, as well as commercial partnerships. Announcements coming soon.

• A future quantum network will require quantum teleportation, which uses entangled photons to teleport information (not matter, à la Star Trek). Researchers at QuTech, a collaboration between Delft University of Technology and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), recently demonstrated quantum teleportation across three physical locations.
• Researcher from Australia and Singapore are looking at a quantum network made up of error corrected quantum memories that are entangled via optical signals in order to coherently integrate photons on a global scale -- the optical equivalent of very long baseline radio telescopes. However, a key basic requirement is a system for reliable global entanglement distribution.
• Researchers in China believe there is way to use quantum communication links to detect earthquakes, while Japan researchers are looking at early tsunami and earthquake warning using sensitive position sensors.
• For those looking to have quantum random numbers in their next Samsung phone: sorry, it is only available in Korea.
• The next iteration of the 5G standard 3GPP Release 17 will contain non-terrestrial networks (NTN) standards, easing the integration of space and terrestrial connectivity.
• Citi’s new “Space: The Dawn of a New Age” report estimates that the space industry will generate $1T in revenue by 2040, up from $370B today, with the fastest growth coming from "new space applications and industries.” The report argues that this is enabled by cheaper launch prices, which they estimate to drop to $100/kg by 2040 from $1500/kg today. 

• Quantum.Tech Boston, June 14-15, Boston, MA
• Quantum 2.0 Conference and Exhibition, June 13 - 16, Boston, MA
• Connectivity Business Summit, June 14-15, New York, NY
• Quantum Information Science International Workshop, July 12-14, Rome, NY
• Small Satellite Conference, August 6 - 11, Logan, Utah
• Optics + Photonics, August 21 - 25, San Diego, CA
• ION GNSS+ 2022, September 19 - 23, Denver, CO
• IEEE Quantum Week 2022, September 18 - 23, Broomfield, CO
• Tough Tech Summit, October 27 - 28, Boston, MA
• International Timing and Sync Forum, November 7 - 10, Dusseldorf, UK

The vulnerabilities of GPS has been well-documented for over two decades.
Since then the National Timing Resilience and Security Act of 2018 was passed to develop an Alternative Timing System to augment and replace GPS.
These plans have since been moving slowly, spurred on a bit by Russia's jamming and threats to GPS.
Within the current budget funding is passing through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "to boost the resiliency of positioning, navigation and timing systems across the country."
This allows the DHS "to revive PNT-focused programs that were about to be closed," according to the DHS strategic program manager for Critical Infrastructure Security & Resilience Research (CISRR).
But the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation (RNTF) is not impressed, calling it: "$172M to Admire the Problem, Not 1 Cent to Fix It."

To learn more, please email us or schedule a meeting here.