GPS-based CERN-LNGS time link for Borexino

We describe the design, the equipment, and the calibration of a new GPS based time link between CERN and the Borexino experiment at the Gran Sasso Laboratory in Italy. This system has been installed and operated in Borexino since March 2012, and used for a precise measurement of CNGS muon neutrinos speed in May 2012. The result of the measurement will be reported in a different letter.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figure

Extensive cosmic showers detection: the importance of timing and the role of GPS in the EEE experiment

Extreme Energy Events (EEE) is an extended Cosmic Rays (CRs) Observatory, composed of about 60 tracking telescopes spread over more than 10 degrees in Latitude and Longitude. We present the metrological characterization of a representative set of actually installed EEE GPS receivers, their calibration and their comparison with respect to dual-frequency receivers for timing applications, as well as plans for a transportable measurement system to calibrate the currently deployed GPS receivers. Finally, the realization of an INRIM Laboratory dedicated to EEE, aimed at hosting reference telescopes and allowing timing studies for Particle Physics/Astrophysics experiments, is presented, as well as the possibility of synchronizing already deployed telescopes utilizing White Rabbit Technique, over optical fiber links, directly with the Universal Time Coordinated time scale, as realized by INRIM (UTC(IT))

Precision measurement of the neutrino velocity with the ICARUS detector in the CNGS beam

During May 2012, the CERN-CNGS neutrino beam has been operated for two weeks for a total of 1.8 10^17 pot in bunched mode, with a 3 ns narrow width proton beam bunches, separated by 100 ns. This tightly bunched beam structure allows a very accurate time of flight measurement of neutrinos from CERN to LNGS on an event-by-event basis. Both the ICARUS-T600 PMT-DAQ and the CERN-LNGS timing synchronization have been substantially improved for this campaign, taking ad-vantage of additional independent GPS receivers, both at CERN and LNGS as well as of the deployment of the "White Rabbit" protocol both at CERN and LNGS. The ICARUS-T600 detector has collected 25 beam-associated events; the corresponding time of flight has been accurately evaluated, using all different time synchronization paths. The measured neutrino time of flight is compatible with the arrival of all events with speed equivalent to the one of light: the difference between the expected value based on the speed of light and the measured value is tof_c - tof_nu = (0.10 \pm 0.67stat. \pm 2.39syst.) ns. This result is in agreement with the value previously reported by the ICARUS collaboration, tof_c - tof_nu = (0.3 \pm 4.9stat. \pm 9.0syst.) ns, but with improved statistical and systematic errors.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, 1 tabl

Measurement of CNGS muon neutrino speed with Borexino

We have measured the speed of muon neutrinos with the Borexino detector using short-bunch CNGS beams. The final result for the difference in time-of-flight between a =17 GeV muon neutrino and a particle moving at the speed of light in vacuum is {\delta}t = 0.8 \pm 0.7stat \pm 2.9sys ns, well consistent with zero.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure

Demonstrator of Time Services based on European GNSS signals: the H2020 DEMETRA Project

During 2015-2016, a European Consortium of 15 partners from 8 different countries, developed the DEMETRA (DEMonstrator of EGNSS services based on Time Reference Architecture), a project funded by the European Union in the frame of the Horizon 2020 program. This project aims at developing and experimenting time dissemination services dedicated to specific users like traffic control, energy distribution, finance, telecommunication, and scientific institutions. Nine services have been developed. These services provide time dissemination with accuracy levels from millisecond to the sub-ns, and also additional services like certification, calibration, or integrity. Five of these services are based on the European GNSS. After a development phase (see PTTI 2016 presentation) the full DEMETRA system has been working during six months for demonstration. The paper will report about the experimentation results, showing performances and limits of the proposed time dissemination services, aiming to foster the exploitation of the European GNSS for timing applications