Skip to main content

deep_time/physics/
drift.rs

1//! Quadratic polynomial for relativistic corrections, clock drift, and custom timescale steering.
2//!
3//! Used to model the accumulated difference between Proper time (τ)
4//! and a coordinate time such as TT (or any other `Scale`).
5//!
6//! Information on the underlying physical model (the master Lagrangian, different
7//! regimes of behavior, and its relationship to general relativity) can be found
8//! [here](https://github.com/ragardner/deep-time/blob/main/docs/relativity.md).
9
10use crate::{
11    ATTOS_PER_SEC_I128, C_SQUARED, Dt, PLANCK_LENGTH_4, Real, Scale, Spacetime, Velocity, dt, sqrt,
12};
13
14/// Quadratic polynomial that describes the accumulated difference between an
15/// observer’s proper time (the time measured by a real clock moving through
16/// spacetime) and a chosen coordinate time such as TT, TAI, or any other
17/// `Scale`.
18///
19/// The polynomial follows the classic form  
20/// Δt = constant + rate·Δt + accel·(Δt)²  
21/// where the three coefficients capture any fixed offset, constant drift, and
22/// quadratic acceleration of the clock. This structure is used throughout
23/// spacecraft navigation, GNSS systems, and relativistic timing pipelines to
24/// steer clocks, predict time offsets, and maintain synchronization over long
25/// durations.
26///
27/// All three coefficients are stored using [`Dt`].
28#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
29#[cfg_attr(feature = "tsify", derive(tsify::Tsify))]
30#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
31pub struct Drift {
32    /// Constant term a₀ expressed in seconds.  
33    /// This represents any fixed time offset between the observer’s proper time
34    /// and the chosen coordinate time.
35    pub constant: Dt,
36
37    /// Linear drift rate a₁ expressed in seconds per second.  
38    /// This term captures a steady fractional rate difference (for example, a
39    /// clock that runs consistently fast or slow).
40    pub rate: Dt,
41
42    /// Quadratic acceleration term a₂ expressed in seconds per second squared.  
43    /// This term accounts for any changing drift rate, such as the gradual
44    /// acceleration caused by relativistic effects or hardware aging.
45    pub accel: Dt,
46}
47
48impl Drift {
49    /// Creates a new `Drift` polynomial from its three coefficients.
50    #[inline]
51    pub const fn new(constant: Dt, rate: Dt, accel: Dt) -> Drift {
52        Self {
53            constant,
54            rate,
55            accel,
56        }
57    }
58
59    /// The zero polynomial representing no correction at all.
60    ///
61    /// Use this when the observer’s clock is already perfectly synchronized with
62    /// the chosen coordinate time.
63    pub const ZERO: Self = Self::new(Dt::ZERO, Dt::ZERO, Dt::ZERO);
64
65    /// Creates a [`Drift`] consisting of a pure constant offset.
66    ///
67    /// This is the most common constructor when only a fixed time bias is known
68    /// (for example, after a one-time clock synchronization or leap-second
69    /// adjustment).
70    #[inline]
71    pub const fn from_constant(c: Dt) -> Drift {
72        Self::new(c, Dt::ZERO, Dt::ZERO)
73    }
74
75    /// Creates a [`Drift`] consisting of a constant offset together with a
76    /// constant linear drift rate.  
77    ///
78    /// This form is very common for GNSS receivers and spacecraft clock steering,
79    /// where a steady fractional frequency offset must be corrected in addition
80    /// to any fixed bias.
81    #[inline]
82    pub const fn from_offset_and_rate(offset: Dt, rate: Dt) -> Drift {
83        Self::new(offset, rate, Dt::ZERO)
84    }
85
86    /// Returns the instantaneous proper-time rate `dτ/dt` (dimensionless).
87    ///
88    /// This value tells you how fast a real physical clock (such as a spacecraft
89    /// onboard clock) is advancing compared to coordinate time. A value of
90    /// `1.0` means the clock runs at the normal rate. Values slightly below `1.0`
91    /// are typical when the clock is moving or sitting in a gravitational well.
92    ///
93    /// The rate includes special-relativistic velocity effects, gravitational
94    /// time dilation, and the library’s built-in Planck-scale saturation term.
95    #[inline]
96    pub const fn proper_time_rate(&self) -> Real {
97        f!(1.0) + self.rate.to_sec_f()
98    }
99
100    /// Evaluates the polynomial at the given elapsed coordinate time span.  
101    ///
102    /// Returns the accumulated time difference (in seconds) between proper
103    /// time and coordinate time after the interval span has passed.
104    ///
105    /// Uses saturating attosecond arithmetic (same policy as [`Dt`] add/mul).
106    /// Scaled products `(a·b)/10¹⁸` avoid wrapping or early-clamping the
107    /// intermediate `a·b` when it exceeds `i128` but the result still fits.
108    pub const fn time_diff_after(&self, span: &Dt) -> Dt {
109        let dt_attos = span.to_attos();
110        let mut total_attos = self.constant.to_attos();
111
112        if !self.rate.is_zero() || !self.accel.is_zero() {
113            // Linear: rate * dt  →  (rate_attos * dt_attos) / 10¹⁸
114            let rate_term = saturating_mul_div_attos_per_sec(self.rate.to_attos(), dt_attos);
115            total_attos = total_attos.saturating_add(rate_term);
116
117            // Quadratic: accel * dt²  →  two successive scaled multiplies
118            let accel_dt = saturating_mul_div_attos_per_sec(self.accel.to_attos(), dt_attos);
119            let accel_term = saturating_mul_div_attos_per_sec(accel_dt, dt_attos);
120            total_attos = total_attos.saturating_add(accel_term);
121        }
122
123        dt!(total_attos)
124    }
125
126    /// Evaluates the deterministic relativistic/polynomial correction **and**
127    /// adds a user-supplied stochastic offset (in seconds).
128    ///
129    /// This is the single production method for realistic stochastic clock
130    /// modeling. In real mission pipelines the deterministic part (this
131    /// polynomial) is kept perfectly clean; stochastic noise (white phase noise,
132    /// random-walk frequency noise, Monte-Carlo realizations, Kalman process
133    /// noise, measured clock residuals, etc.) is added at evaluation time.
134    ///
135    /// Pass `0.0` (or simply call the original `time_diff_after`) when you
136    /// want purely deterministic behavior.
137    #[inline]
138    pub fn time_diff_after_with_noise(&self, span: &Dt, stochastic_offset_sec: Real) -> Dt {
139        self.time_diff_after(span).add(Dt::from_sec_f(
140            stochastic_offset_sec,
141            Scale::TAI,
142            Scale::TAI,
143        ))
144    }
145
146    /// Build a linear-rate [`Drift`] from speed (m/s) and SI potential Φ (m²/s²).
147    ///
148    /// Given how fast you move and how deep you sit in gravity, return a
149    /// [`Drift`] whose rate term matches the library’s proper-time model
150    /// (special-relativistic and gravitational effects). Useful when you want
151    /// the rate as a polynomial coefficient rather than integrating a path.
152    ///
153    /// ## `characteristic_length_scale`
154    ///
155    /// Pass **`0.0`** for ordinary weak-field work (Earth orbit, solar system):
156    /// Kretschmann is zero and the rate is the first-order weak-field form.
157    /// Pass a positive length (meters) only if you want the optional curvature
158    /// estimate (see [`Spacetime::kretschmann_from_potential_and_scale`]).
159    pub const fn from_velocity_potential_and_scale(
160        velocity_m_s: Real,
161        grav_potential_m2_s2: Real,
162        characteristic_length_scale: Real,
163    ) -> Drift {
164        let phi = grav_potential_m2_s2 / C_SQUARED;
165        let velocity = Velocity::from_speed(velocity_m_s);
166        let spacetime = Spacetime::from_potential_velocity_and_scale(
167            phi,
168            velocity,
169            characteristic_length_scale,
170        );
171        Self::from_spacetime(&spacetime)
172    }
173
174    /// Canonical low-level constructor that implements the library's general
175    /// relativity formula.
176    ///
177    /// This function is the single source of truth for the proper-time rate
178    /// calculation used throughout the library. Most users will never call it
179    /// directly; the high-level constructors `from_velocity_potential_and_scale`
180    /// and `from_spacetime` are the intended entry points.
181    ///
182    /// The internal expression is  
183    /// K_eff = [δ(1 + x) + x(1−δ)²] / (1 + x)  
184    /// where δ = α²(1−β²) and x = ℓ_Pl⁴ 𝒦.
185    ///
186    /// The returned rate offset is then applied as a linear term in the `Drift`
187    /// polynomial.
188    pub const fn from_unified_proper_time_rate(u: Real, kretschmann: Real) -> Drift {
189        let delta = u.max(f!(0.0));
190        let x = PLANCK_LENGTH_4 * kretschmann.max(f!(0.0));
191
192        let one_minus_delta = f!(1.0) - delta;
193        let num = delta * (f!(1.0) + x) + x * (one_minus_delta * one_minus_delta);
194        let k_eff = num / (f!(1.0) + x);
195
196        let rate_factor = sqrt(k_eff).max(f!(0.0));
197        let rate_offset = rate_factor - f!(1.0);
198
199        Self::from_offset_and_rate(
200            Dt::ZERO,
201            Dt::from_sec_f(rate_offset, Scale::TAI, Scale::TAI),
202        )
203    }
204
205    /// Creates a `Drift` from a fully resolved `Spacetime` snapshot.  
206    ///
207    /// This is the canonical high-level entry point when you already hold a
208    /// `Spacetime` object containing the gravitational lapse factor α, the
209    /// local velocity β, and the Kretschmann scalar. It internally computes the
210    /// unified proper-time rate and packages the result as a `Drift`
211    /// polynomial ready for evaluation at any future time.
212    #[inline]
213    pub const fn from_spacetime(spacetime: &Spacetime) -> Drift {
214        let u = spacetime.alpha * spacetime.alpha * (f!(1.0) - spacetime.beta * spacetime.beta);
215        Self::from_unified_proper_time_rate(u, spacetime.kretschmann)
216    }
217}
218
219impl Dt {
220    /// Builds a clock-drift model in which this [`Dt`] is treated as the
221    /// initial fixed time difference between the observer’s proper time and
222    /// the chosen coordinate time.
223    ///
224    /// In practice you often compute or measure a one-time offset (for example
225    /// after a clock synchronization or a leap-second jump) and then want to
226    /// combine it with a steady rate difference and any quadratic change.
227    /// This method lets you do that directly from a [`Dt`] without having to
228    /// call the more verbose [`Drift::new`].
229    ///
230    /// The other two arguments describe how the difference between the two
231    /// clocks will evolve:
232    /// - `rate` — the constant fractional speed difference (how much faster or
233    ///   slower one clock runs compared with the other).
234    /// - `accel` — how quickly that speed difference itself is changing (for
235    ///   example because the spacecraft is moving through a varying gravitational
236    ///   field).
237    ///
238    /// See [`Drift`] and [`Drift::from_offset_and_rate`] for more background on
239    /// why these three numbers are used to model real clocks.
240    #[inline]
241    pub const fn to_drift_as_constant(self, rate: Dt, accel: Dt) -> Drift {
242        Drift::new(self, rate, accel)
243    }
244
245    /// Builds a clock-drift model in which this [`Dt`] supplies the constant
246    /// fractional rate difference between the observer’s proper time and the
247    /// chosen coordinate time.
248    ///
249    /// If you have already calculated (or measured) a steady rate offset as a
250    /// [`Dt`], you can use this method to attach an initial time offset and a
251    /// quadratic term and obtain a complete [`Drift`] polynomial.
252    ///
253    /// Physically, the rate term captures the fact that two clocks that are
254    /// moving at different velocities or sitting at different gravitational
255    /// potentials will accumulate a steadily growing time difference. The
256    /// other two parameters let you also describe any starting bias and any
257    /// change in that rate over time.
258    ///
259    /// See the documentation on [`Drift`] for the meaning of the three
260    /// coefficients in a relativistic timing context.
261    #[inline]
262    pub const fn to_drift_as_rate(self, constant: Dt, accel: Dt) -> Drift {
263        Drift::new(constant, self, accel)
264    }
265
266    /// Builds a clock-drift model in which this [`Dt`] supplies the quadratic
267    /// term that describes how the rate difference itself is changing.
268    ///
269    /// Some situations (a spacecraft on a highly elliptical orbit, a clock
270    /// whose frequency is aging, or a trajectory that takes it through regions
271    /// of changing gravitational potential) cause the *rate* at which two
272    /// clocks diverge to change over time. If you have computed that changing
273    /// rate as a [`Dt`], this method lets you combine it with an initial offset
274    /// and a base rate to form a full [`Drift`].
275    ///
276    /// The other two arguments are:
277    /// - `constant` — any fixed time bias present at the start.
278    /// - `rate` — the base fractional rate difference that will itself be
279    ///   modified by the quadratic term supplied by `self`.
280    ///
281    /// See [`Drift`] for more explanation of why a quadratic model is used for
282    /// relativistic clock predictions.
283    #[inline]
284    pub const fn to_drift_as_accel(self, constant: Dt, rate: Dt) -> Drift {
285        Drift::new(constant, rate, self)
286    }
287
288    /// Advances this `Dt` by the given elapsed duration while applying the relativistic proper-time correction
289    /// derived from the supplied `Spacetime` model.
290    ///
291    /// - This method is intended for simulation of remote clocks (e.g., Earth time as observed from a spacecraft).
292    /// - For a local hardware proper-time clock, use the plain `add` methods instead.
293    #[inline]
294    pub const fn adjusted_advance(&mut self, elapsed: &Dt, spacetime: &Spacetime) {
295        let dtau = elapsed.add(Drift::from_spacetime(spacetime).time_diff_after(elapsed));
296        *self = self.add(dtau);
297    }
298
299    /// Advances this `Dt` by the given elapsed duration while applying the relativistic proper-time correction
300    /// from a pre-computed `Drift` value.
301    ///
302    /// - This is an optimized variant of [`Dt::adjusted_advance`](../struct.Dt.html#method.adjusted_advance)
303    ///   for callers that already hold a [`Drift`] instance.
304    /// - This method is intended for simulation of remote clocks (e.g., Earth time as observed from a spacecraft).
305    /// - For a local hardware proper-time clock, use the plain `add` methods instead.
306    #[inline]
307    pub const fn adjusted_advance_using_drift(&mut self, elapsed: &Dt, drift: &Drift) {
308        let dtau = elapsed.add(drift.time_diff_after(elapsed));
309        *self = self.add(dtau);
310    }
311
312    /// Converts this instant to any other [`Scale`] while applying an exact quadratic relativistic
313    /// or clock-drift correction defined by a [`Drift`] model relative to a reference instant.
314    pub const fn convert_using_drift(self, reference: Dt, drift: &Drift) -> Dt {
315        let span = self.to_diff_raw(reference);
316        let correction = drift.time_diff_after(&span);
317        self.add(correction)
318    }
319
320    /// Performs the inverse conversion of [`Dt::convert_using_drift`], recovering the original proper
321    /// time on the source clock scale.
322    ///
323    /// A fixed-point iteration (at most 16 steps) is used to solve the implicit equation. For the common
324    /// case of a pure constant offset the function returns immediately without iteration.
325    pub const fn convert_back_using_drift(self, reference: Dt, drift: &Drift) -> Dt {
326        if drift.rate.is_zero() && drift.accel.is_zero() {
327            return self.sub(drift.constant);
328        }
329        let mut guess = self;
330        let mut i = 0u32;
331        while i < 16 {
332            let span = guess.to_diff_raw(reference);
333            let correction = drift.time_diff_after(&span);
334            guess = self.sub(correction);
335            i += 1;
336        }
337        guess
338    }
339}
340
341/// Fixed-point product `(a * b) / ATTOS_PER_SEC`, saturating on true result overflow.
342///
343/// Drift coefficients and spans are both attosecond-scaled, so applying rate or
344/// accel needs `(a·b)/10¹⁸`. The raw product `a·b` can exceed `i128` even when
345/// that scaled result still fits; this helper avoids wrapping or early clamp.
346///
347/// 1. Uses `checked_mul` when the intermediate product fits (common path).
348/// 2. Otherwise splits `a = a_hi·D + a_lo` so
349///    `(a·b)/D = a_hi·b + (a_lo·b)/D`, with a second split on `b` if needed.
350/// 3. Combines parts with saturating arithmetic so extreme inputs clamp like
351///    the rest of [`Dt`] rather than wrapping.
352const fn saturating_mul_div_attos_per_sec(a: i128, b: i128) -> i128 {
353    if a == 0 || b == 0 {
354        return 0;
355    }
356
357    if let Some(product) = a.checked_mul(b) {
358        return product / ATTOS_PER_SEC_I128;
359    }
360
361    // a = a_hi * D + a_lo  (Rust truncating division; identity holds for negatives)
362    let a_hi = a / ATTOS_PER_SEC_I128;
363    let a_lo = a % ATTOS_PER_SEC_I128;
364    // (a_hi * D + a_lo) * b / D = a_hi * b + (a_lo * b) / D
365    let hi = a_hi.saturating_mul(b);
366
367    let lo = match a_lo.checked_mul(b) {
368        Some(product) => product / ATTOS_PER_SEC_I128,
369        None => {
370            // |a_lo| < D; split b the same way:
371            // a_lo * b / D = a_lo * b_hi + (a_lo * b_lo) / D
372            // |a_lo * b_lo| < D² = 10³⁶ < i128::MAX, so the cross term is exact.
373            let b_hi = b / ATTOS_PER_SEC_I128;
374            let b_lo = b % ATTOS_PER_SEC_I128;
375            let cross = (a_lo * b_lo) / ATTOS_PER_SEC_I128;
376            a_lo.saturating_mul(b_hi).saturating_add(cross)
377        }
378    };
379
380    hi.saturating_add(lo)
381}
382
383#[cfg(feature = "wire")]
384impl Drift {
385    /// Current wire format version.
386    pub const WIRE_VERSION: u8 = 1;
387
388    /// Size of the canonical wire representation in bytes.
389    pub const WIRE_SIZE: usize = 3 * Dt::WIRE_SIZE;
390
391    /// Serializes this [`Drift`] polynomial into a fixed buffer.
392    ///
393    /// The layout is the concatenation of the three `Dt` fields.
394    pub fn to_wire_bytes(&self) -> [u8; Self::WIRE_SIZE] {
395        let mut buf = [0u8; Self::WIRE_SIZE];
396        let c = self.constant.to_wire_bytes();
397        let r = self.rate.to_wire_bytes();
398        let a = self.accel.to_wire_bytes();
399
400        buf[0..Dt::WIRE_SIZE].copy_from_slice(&c);
401        buf[Dt::WIRE_SIZE..2 * Dt::WIRE_SIZE].copy_from_slice(&r);
402        buf[2 * Dt::WIRE_SIZE..].copy_from_slice(&a);
403        buf
404    }
405
406    /// Deserializes a [`Drift`] from exactly `WIRE_SIZE` bytes of wire data.
407    ///
408    /// Returns `None` if any nested `Dt` fails validation or if the version
409    /// byte is unknown.
410    ///
411    /// ## Security
412    ///
413    /// Composes the safety guarantees of
414    /// [`Dt::from_wire_bytes`](../struct.Dt.html#method.from_wire_bytes).
415    ///
416    /// Fixed size and layered validation make it safe for untrusted input.
417    pub fn from_wire_bytes(bytes: &[u8]) -> Option<Self> {
418        if bytes.len() != Self::WIRE_SIZE {
419            return None;
420        }
421
422        if bytes[0] != Self::WIRE_VERSION {
423            return None;
424        }
425
426        let constant = Dt::from_wire_bytes(&bytes[0..Dt::WIRE_SIZE])?;
427        let rate = Dt::from_wire_bytes(&bytes[Dt::WIRE_SIZE..2 * Dt::WIRE_SIZE])?;
428        let accel = Dt::from_wire_bytes(&bytes[2 * Dt::WIRE_SIZE..])?;
429
430        Some(Self::new(constant, rate, accel))
431    }
432}