2-day International Workshop : 2nd-3rd Oct 2006, NPL

The European Space Agency (ESA) commissioned a study on the potential uses of optical frequency synthesisers for space-borne optical frequency metrology, which was undertaken by a consortium of NPL, Menlo Systems GmbH, Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf and Kayser Threde GmbH.

Programme and presentations ( PDF, 6.4 MB)

ESA was keen to have input into this study from the wider scientific and technological communities to explore the potential applications of this new capability. ESA was keen to have input from the wider scientific and technological communities that could foresee potential applications of this new frequency metrology capability in the space arena. As a result, ESA was pleased to support an international workshop to be hosted by NPL and consortium partners on 2nd-3rd October 2006.

The NPL workshop focussed on how comb systems could be modified or developed for space applications and examined space science and technology missions that could benefit from such an approach. The study sought inputs across a wide range of space-related applications in fundamental physics and precision measurement in space, satellite navigation, telecommunications and earth observation, in alignment with the ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025.

Topics likely to benefit from optical synthesiser technology included:

• Space tests of fundamental physical laws and constants
• Satellite time transfer (e.g. ACES microwave link, laser ranging)
• High accuracy satellite constellation control (DARWIN, XEUS)
• Gravity wave detection in space (e.g. LISA)
• Earth observation experiments requiring improved timing and frequency signals, such as atmospheric absorption characterisation, geodesy and/or plate tectonics
• Inter-satellite and ground-to-satellite telecommunications
• Astronomy, spectroscopy and distance metrology

The workshop explored the benefits of space-borne femtosecond comb technology across all these areas, whilst recognising the significantly increased complexity and constraints arising for such synthesiser technology operated in a space environment.