FPGA-based low-cost synchronized fiber network for experimental setups in space

Custom experiment setups in physics often require control electronics to execute actions and measurements on a small time scale. When further constraints limit the experiment's environment, for example when is inside sounding rocket, conventional network systems will not suffice those because of weight, heat or budget limitations. This paper proposes architecture with resolution less than 1 ns over pair plastic fibers while using low-cost commercial hardware. The comparison copper have low weight additionally can isolate parts setup galvanically. Data rates 40 Mbit/s enable transfer large amounts configuration data network. Proof-of-concept implementations endpoints switches FPGAs are analyzed terms synchronicity, rate resource usage. Using reached standard deviation 100 ps. Compared wire implementation reduced by about one order magnitude. With its at cost, useful space laboratory which high resolution.