{"title":"The Corrections of Sub-picosecond Propagation Time Delays and the Allan Variance of Discontinuous Measurement for the Inter-satellite Time Transfer","authors":"He Ke-liang, He Yu-ling, Wang Guo-yong","doi":"10.1016/j.chinastron.2025.03.004","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The asymmetric signal propagation paths between two satellites lead to the unequal time delays at receiving signal time, which should be accurately corrected when solving the clock difference of inter-satellite time transfer. The observation method of clock difference is analysed, the asymmetric signal propagation time delay caused by satellite motion is then derived and reduced, the delay caused by relativistic deflection of light is also calculated using the time transfer function method, and the residual error stability of the propagation time delay correction is evaluated, which improve the correction accuracy of asymmetric signal propagation time delay to 0.1 ps under the current condition of orbit determination. The autocorrelation function representation of Allan variance is extended, and a method of computing the Allan variance error with missing measuring data is proposed based on the statistical method. The effect of missing measuring data on frequency stability calculation of different noises is also analysed. Overall, a systematic correction approach of the propagation time delay and Allan variance with discontinuous measurement for the inter-satellite two-way time transfer has been constructed, which can be used in the clock difference correction of inter-satellite time transfer in the order of ps.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35730,"journal":{"name":"Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics","volume":"49 1","pages":"Pages 219-240"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0275106225000049","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"Physics and Astronomy","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The asymmetric signal propagation paths between two satellites lead to the unequal time delays at receiving signal time, which should be accurately corrected when solving the clock difference of inter-satellite time transfer. The observation method of clock difference is analysed, the asymmetric signal propagation time delay caused by satellite motion is then derived and reduced, the delay caused by relativistic deflection of light is also calculated using the time transfer function method, and the residual error stability of the propagation time delay correction is evaluated, which improve the correction accuracy of asymmetric signal propagation time delay to 0.1 ps under the current condition of orbit determination. The autocorrelation function representation of Allan variance is extended, and a method of computing the Allan variance error with missing measuring data is proposed based on the statistical method. The effect of missing measuring data on frequency stability calculation of different noises is also analysed. Overall, a systematic correction approach of the propagation time delay and Allan variance with discontinuous measurement for the inter-satellite two-way time transfer has been constructed, which can be used in the clock difference correction of inter-satellite time transfer in the order of ps.
期刊介绍:
The vigorous growth of astronomical and astrophysical science in China led to an increase in papers on astrophysics which Acta Astronomica Sinica could no longer absorb. Translations of papers from two new journals the Chinese Journal of Space Science and Acta Astrophysica Sinica are added to the translation of Acta Astronomica Sinica to form the new journal Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics. Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics brings English translations of notable articles to astronomers and astrophysicists outside China.