Scalable and programmable coherent waveform generators

A network for synchronizing a plurality of digital-to-analog converter (DAC) cards in a quantum information processing (QIP) system, the network comprising:

• the plurality of DAC cards that each include:
• a clock divider/replicator device having an input SYNC pin;
• a digital logic component;
• and
• one or more DAC components that are each configured to convert a digital signal from the digital logic component to an analog signal as an at least one output that is applied to an acousto-optic modulator to control one or more optical beams for a separate qubit of the QIP system;
• a first distribution network configured to provide a clock signal to the clock divider/replicator device in each of the plurality of DAC cards;
• and
• a second distribution network configured to provide a start signal to the respective digital logic component of each of the plurality of DAC cards,
• wherein, for each of the plurality of DAC cards, the digital logic component is configured to use the start signal to assert the input SYNC pin of the clock divider/replicator device when the start signal is asserted unless the start signal is masked by the digital logic component.