高强度光源，如自由电子激光器（FEL），是分子水平前沿研究的关键。通过超短脉冲，它们提供了必要的时间和亚原子空间分辨率。为了在自由电子激光器中产生光，多个电气和光学元件需要与该设施的射频标准主时钟同步。挑战在于，这些组件分发在千米长的距离上，应用需要在几飞秒范围内的同步精度。
对于此类任务，利用Cycle的PULSE等光时间分发系统（TDS）在光域中分发时间信号，从而提供长距离的稳定传输。首先，使用平衡光学微波相位检测器（BOMPD）将该设施的射频信号印在低噪声锁模激光器（光学主振荡器）上。随后，激光信号被耦合到时间稳定的保偏（PM）光纤链路，该光纤链路将信号分发到各个客户端。光纤网络包括具有光延迟线和平衡光互相关器（BOC）的反馈系统，以补偿信号传输时的波动。最后，在TDS的远程站，压控振荡器连接到另一个BOMPD以产生低噪声微波信号。
例如，这种方法用于中国大连相干光源（DCLS），该光源实现了20fs RMS及以下的时间抖动，以同步其RF时间信号。此外，在这种现代自由电子激光上实现Cycle的BOMPD来转换RF和光学时间信号，可以实现高精度实验和对分子动力学的新见解。
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