US 11,268,806 B2Granted

Dynamical locking of optical path times using entangled photons

AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.

InventorsChad Fertig, David Campagna, Karl D. Nelson

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Abstract

Systems and methods for dynamic locking of optical path times using entangled photons are provided. A system includes an optical source for generating bi-photons; tracer laser beam sources for generating tracer laser beams; telescopes that emit the tracer laser beams and the bi-photons to remote reflectors, each bi-photon traveling along an optical path in a pair of optical paths toward a corresponding remote reflector, wherein the telescopes receive reflected bi-photons from the remote reflectors; and communication links, wherein the optical source respectively communicates with first and second remote reflectors through a first and second communication link. Also, the optical source uses the tracer laser beams and the communication links to respectively point the bi-photons towards the remote reflectors. Moreover, the system includes an interferometer that provides information regarding detection of the reflected bi-photons, wherein the optical source uses the information to adjust optical path lengths to be substantially equal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

an optical source for generating pairs of bi-photons;
a plurality of tracer laser beam sources for generating a plurality of tracer laser beams;
a plurality of telescopes that emit the plurality of tracer laser beams and the pairs of bi-photons to a pair of remote reflectors, each bi-photon in the pairs of bi-photons traveling along an optical path in a pair of optical paths toward a corresponding remote reflector in the pair of remote reflectors, wherein the plurality of telescopes receive reflected bi-photons from the pair of remote reflectors;
a plurality of communication links, wherein the optical source communicates with a first remote reflector in the pair of remote reflectors through a first communication link in the plurality of communication links and with a second remote reflector in the pair of remote reflectors through a second communication link in the plurality of communication links;
wherein the optical source uses the plurality of tracer laser beams and the plurality of communication links to respectively point the pairs of bi-photons towards the pair of remote reflectors;
and
an interferometer that provides information regarding detection of the reflected bi-photons, wherein the optical source adjusts lengths of the pair of optical paths to be substantially equal based on the provided information.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

generating pairs of bi-photons;
generating a plurality of tracer laser beams;
using the plurality of tracer laser beams to point the pairs of bi-photons toward a pair of remote reflectors;
transmitting the pairs of bi-photons towards the pair of remote reflectors, each bi-photon in the pairs of bi-photons traveling along an optical path in a pair of optical paths toward a corresponding remote reflector in the pair of remote reflectors;
receiving reflected bi-photons from the pair of remote reflectors;
and
adjusting lengths of the pair of optical paths based on acquired information from an interferometer, wherein the lengths of the pair of optical paths are adjusted to be substantially equal.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/936,282Filed 22 Jul 2020
Published: US 2022/0026195 A127 Jan 2022
Granted: 8 Mar 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G01B 11/14
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures
G04F 5/14
Apparatus for producing preselected time intervals for use as timing standards: using atomic clocks
H04B 10/118
Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum: specially adapted for satellite communication
H04B 10/29
Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing…