Nanosecond-level time synchronization of autonomous radio detector stations for extensive air showers

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11320%2F16%3A10333776" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11320/16:10333776 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/61989592:15310/16:33159125 RIV/68378271:_____/16:00463954

Result on the web

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/11/01/P01018" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/11/01/P01018</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/11/01/P01018" target="_blank" >10.1088/1748-0221/11/01/P01018</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Nanosecond-level time synchronization of autonomous radio detector stations for extensive air showers

Original language description

To exploit the full potential of radio measurements of cosmic-ray air showers at MHz frequencies, a detector timing synchronization within 1 ns is needed. Large distributed radio detector arrays such as the Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) rely on timing via the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the synchronization of individual detector station clocks. Unfortunately, GPS timing is expected to have an accuracy no better than about 5 ns. In practice, in particular in AERA, the GPS clocks exhibit drifts on the order of tens of ns. We developed a technique to correct for the GPS drifts, and an independent method is used to cross-check that indeed we reach a nanosecond-scale timing accuracy by this correction. First, we operate a "beacon transmitter" which emits defined sine waves detected by AERA antennas recorded within the physics data. The relative phasing of these sine waves can be used to correct for GPS clock drifts. In addition to this, we observe radio pulses emitted by commercial airplanes, the position of which we determine in real time from Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcasts intercepted with a software-defined radio. From the known source location and the measured arrival times of the pulses we determine relative timing offsets between radio detector stations. We demonstrate with a combined analysis that the two methods give a consistent timing calibration with an accuracy of 2 ns or better. Consequently, the beacon method alone can be used in the future to continuously determine and correct for GPS clock drifts in each individual event measured by AERA.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_x - Unclassified - Peer-reviewed scientific article (Jimp, Jsc and Jost)

CEP classification

BF - Elementary particle theory and high energy physics

OECD FORD branch

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Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2016

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Instrumentation

ISSN

1748-0221

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

11

Issue of the periodical within the volume

January

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

31

Pages from-to

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UT code for WoS article

000371469800106

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-84957933092