Algorithm for Taming Rubidium Atomic Clocks Based on Longwave (Loran-C) Timing Signals

This paper explores effective methods for taming rubidium atomic clocks with longwave timing signals. In an in-depth analysis of the time-difference data between the 1PPS timing signal output from the ground-wave signal received by a long-wave receiver and the 1PPS signal from UTC, we observe that t...

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Main Authors: Xiaolong Guan, Jianfeng Wu, Zhibo Zhou, Yan Xing, Yuji Li, Huabing Wu, Aiping Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/6/1049
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author Xiaolong Guan
Jianfeng Wu
Zhibo Zhou
Yan Xing
Yuji Li
Huabing Wu
Aiping Zhao
author_facet Xiaolong Guan
Jianfeng Wu
Zhibo Zhou
Yan Xing
Yuji Li
Huabing Wu
Aiping Zhao
author_sort Xiaolong Guan
collection DOAJ
description This paper explores effective methods for taming rubidium atomic clocks with longwave timing signals. In an in-depth analysis of the time-difference data between the 1PPS timing signal output from the ground-wave signal received by a long-wave receiver and the 1PPS signal from UTC, we observe that the time-difference data has significant short-term jitter and long-term periodicity effects. To meet this challenge, we adopt several innovative strategies. First, we use the Fourier transform algorithm to analyse the time-frequency characteristics of the time-difference data in detail and accordingly propose a de-jittering correction algorithm for the long-wave timing data, which is aimed at improving the stability of the long-wave timing signals. Secondly, the time difference model of the rubidium clock is innovatively modified, and a quadratic polynomial superimposed with a periodic fluctuation term is constructed, which can accurately solve and eliminate the periodic components and obtain smoother time difference data. Finally, the parameters of the rubidium clock are accurately estimated by the least-squares method using the corrected smoother time difference data, and the output frequency of the rubidium clock is adjusted accordingly so that the rubidium clock is tamed effectively by the long-wave timing signal successfully. The experimental results show that the long-term stability of the tamed rubidium clock is significantly improved to 3.52 × 10<sup>−13</sup>/100,000 s; meanwhile, the phase deviation of the output 1PPS from the UTC of the tamed rubidium clock after entering the stabilisation period is kept within 25 ns.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2072-4292
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publishDate 2025-03-01
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spelling doaj-art-76e522aef5874c699a1e6b43303d68192025-08-20T03:44:03ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-03-01176104910.3390/rs17061049Algorithm for Taming Rubidium Atomic Clocks Based on Longwave (Loran-C) Timing SignalsXiaolong Guan0Jianfeng Wu1Zhibo Zhou2Yan Xing3Yuji Li4Huabing Wu5Aiping Zhao6National Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi’an 710600, ChinaThis paper explores effective methods for taming rubidium atomic clocks with longwave timing signals. In an in-depth analysis of the time-difference data between the 1PPS timing signal output from the ground-wave signal received by a long-wave receiver and the 1PPS signal from UTC, we observe that the time-difference data has significant short-term jitter and long-term periodicity effects. To meet this challenge, we adopt several innovative strategies. First, we use the Fourier transform algorithm to analyse the time-frequency characteristics of the time-difference data in detail and accordingly propose a de-jittering correction algorithm for the long-wave timing data, which is aimed at improving the stability of the long-wave timing signals. Secondly, the time difference model of the rubidium clock is innovatively modified, and a quadratic polynomial superimposed with a periodic fluctuation term is constructed, which can accurately solve and eliminate the periodic components and obtain smoother time difference data. Finally, the parameters of the rubidium clock are accurately estimated by the least-squares method using the corrected smoother time difference data, and the output frequency of the rubidium clock is adjusted accordingly so that the rubidium clock is tamed effectively by the long-wave timing signal successfully. The experimental results show that the long-term stability of the tamed rubidium clock is significantly improved to 3.52 × 10<sup>−13</sup>/100,000 s; meanwhile, the phase deviation of the output 1PPS from the UTC of the tamed rubidium clock after entering the stabilisation period is kept within 25 ns.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/6/1049long-wave (Loran-C)rubidium atomic clockstime-frequency analysistame atomic clocksleast squares
spellingShingle Xiaolong Guan
Jianfeng Wu
Zhibo Zhou
Yan Xing
Yuji Li
Huabing Wu
Aiping Zhao
Algorithm for Taming Rubidium Atomic Clocks Based on Longwave (Loran-C) Timing Signals
Remote Sensing
long-wave (Loran-C)
rubidium atomic clocks
time-frequency analysis
tame atomic clocks
least squares
title Algorithm for Taming Rubidium Atomic Clocks Based on Longwave (Loran-C) Timing Signals
title_full Algorithm for Taming Rubidium Atomic Clocks Based on Longwave (Loran-C) Timing Signals
title_fullStr Algorithm for Taming Rubidium Atomic Clocks Based on Longwave (Loran-C) Timing Signals
title_full_unstemmed Algorithm for Taming Rubidium Atomic Clocks Based on Longwave (Loran-C) Timing Signals
title_short Algorithm for Taming Rubidium Atomic Clocks Based on Longwave (Loran-C) Timing Signals
title_sort algorithm for taming rubidium atomic clocks based on longwave loran c timing signals
topic long-wave (Loran-C)
rubidium atomic clocks
time-frequency analysis
tame atomic clocks
least squares
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/6/1049
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