Optical Clock Technologies Enabling Advanced GNSS

Abstract

Future GNSS architectures, such as the proposed Kepler system, foresee optical technologies. Optical frequency references in combination with optical inter-satellite links can improve satellite navigation with respect to intra-system synchronization, accuracy of orbit determination and system monitoring and integrity. We present the current status of our work on optical frequency references based on molecular iodine and on optical resonators. Several setups have been realized with respect to applications in space, being the basis for the Kepler system.