Performance results of the first White Rabbit installation for CNGS time transfer

This paper describes the long-term performance of White Rabbit (WR) based time and frequency transfer in the systems deployed at CERN and Gran Sasso National Laboratory. WR is a new technology based on IEEE 1588-2008 and Synchronous Ethernet which allows for sub-nanosecond accuracy and picosecond precision of synchronization in an Ethernet-based network. The first installation of WR is used in the CERN Neutrino to Gran Sasso (CNGS) project to transfer the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) from a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to the underground extraction/detection points. The data collected during the system operation is used to evaluate its performance. Additionally, the performance in varying temperature conditions is verified with tests in a climatic chamber. We evaluate time transfer by measuring the offset between the time reference and the time receiver (WR Node). The stability of the transfered frequency is evaluated by analyzing the Allan Deviation (ADEV) and the Maximum Time Interval Error (MTIE).