DATA SHEETPULSE
Timing Distribution System

APPLICATIONS
Precise synchronization of distributed RF and laser sources in facilities such as: Free-Electron-Lasers
 Particle Accelerators
 Radio Telescope Arrays
 Laser Amplifier Chains Ultrafast Electron Diffraction Experiments
 Ultrafast Laser Labs
BENEFITS

Below 1 fs timing jitter and timing drift
Up to 10 km fiber link length (longer custom links available on request)
Standard 8 -16 links per unit (scalable to >100 links)
Push-Button Operation
No User Intervention required

DESCRIPTIONPULSE timing distribution system (TDS) enables sub-femtosecond distribution of timing signals toremote locations. It takes advantage of the inherently low noise pulse trains of a mode-locked laser (i.e.
optical master oscillator, or OMO in short) and uses it as its timing signal which can be referenced to an
optical or RF clock. The carefully selected OMO timing signal is transferred through fiber-optic timing
links to multiple end stations where transmission delays are detected with attosecond resolution using
Cycle’s patented balanced optical cross-correlators (BOC) and actively compensated.
At the output of the stabilized fiber links, either an ultrafast laser or a microwave source can be tightly
synchronized to the output, thereby to the OMO timing signal. This can be done with Cycle’s patented
TCBOC (Two-Color Balanced Optical Cross-correlator for optical-optical synchronization) or BOMPD(Balanced Optical Microwave Phase Detector, for RF-optical synchronization). Naturally, PULSE has its
own control system that fully automates the whole process and logs all critical system performance data,
providing 24/7, 365 days/year sub-femtosecond timing distribution and synchronization from the clickof a button.

SAMPLE PULSE TDS SCHEMATIC

Fiber link length (up to)
Fiber links per PULSE TDSplatform
Fiber type
Power per client
Optical wavelength
Pulse repetition rate
Dimensions (L x W x H)
WeightRack for Control System
Integrated feedback
Control system interfaces
Auto lockValue<5Unitfs RMS

108km

PM> 101550 ± 50
< 500
1.5 x 0.8 x 0.3
270 kgIncludedincludedincludedincluded

mWnm
MHzm3

CommentWithin 35 μHz - 1 MHz bandwidth, between two stabilized
fiber links
Longer Links on request
Scalable to an arbitrary number of links by combining several
platforms together
SM available on request
Average power available at each fiber end
Operating at pulsed mode
Tailored to the frequency of interest

Temperature-controlled
Optimized PID parameters
Available in Epics, Tango and/or customized as required

MEASUREMENT DATA

Out-of-loop timing drift between two stabilized fiber links1 sampled at 2 Hz
Out-of-loop timing jitter between two stabilized
fiber link 1 above 1 Hz1
The length of each fiber link is 150 m.

VISIBLE AND INVISIBLELASER RADIATIONAVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE TO
DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION
CLASS 3B LASER PRODUCTCycle PULSE TDS is a Class 3B Laser ProductContact sales@cyclelasers.com to discuss your requirements and receive afree white paper on timing jitter measurements.

Cycle GmbH • Hamburg • Germany

www.cyclelasers.com

contact@cyclelasers.com

DATASHEET_PULSE TDS.PDF © Cycle GmbH - Specifications subject to change without notice, October 2021

Parameters
Timing jitter

The OMO is tightly locked to thefacility’s RF master oscillator using
Cycle’s patented BOMPD. OMOtiming signal is distributed using
stabilized fiber links (Fiber Link
Stabilizer consists of our patented
BOC + Motorized Delay Line +Link Control components)
End-stationequipment
aresynchronized by either ourTCBOC (US patent) or BOMPD(US patent).