%A Wang Hong-Fu (王洪福), Zhang Shou (张寿)
%T Iterative quantum algorithm for distributed clock synchronization
%0 Journal Article
%D 2012
%J Chin. Phys. B
%R 10.1088/1674-1056/21/10/100309
%P 100309-100309
%V 21
%N 10
%U {https://cpb.iphy.ac.cn/CN/abstract/article_114117.shtml}
%8 2012-09-01
%X Clock synchronization is a well-studied problem with many practical and scientific applications. We propose an arbitrary accuracy iterative quantum algorithm for distributed clock synchronization using only three qubits. The n bits of the time difference Δ between two spatially separated clocks can be deterministically extracted by communicating only O(n) messages and executing the quantum iteration process n times based on the classical feedback and measurement operations. Finally, we also give the algorithm using only two qubits and discuss the success probability of the algorithm.