Direct digital chirp synthesizer and generating a chirped optical frequency comb

A chirped optical frequency comb spectrometer for performing chirped optical spectroscopy, the chirped optical frequency comb spectrometer comprising:

• a direct digital chirp synthesizer that comprises:
• a direct digital synthesizer that receives a repetition frequency signal from a delay generator, receives a clock frequency from a frequency converter, produces a radiofrequency chirp waveform based on the repetition frequency signal and the clock frequency, and communicates the radiofrequency chirp waveform;
• and
• an electro optic modulator in electrical communication with the direct digital synthesizer and that:
• receives the radiofrequency chirp waveform from the direct digital synthesizer;
• receives laser light;
• and
• produces a chirped optical frequency comb from the laser light based on the radiofrequency chirp waveform;
• and
• a spectroscopy cell in optical communication with the electro optic modulator and that receives a frequency shifted optical comb based on the chirped optical frequency comb and produces an optical spectrum from the frequency shifted optical comb.

A process for generating a chirped optical frequency comb with a direct digital chirp synthesizer, the process comprising:

• receiving, by a direct digital synthesizer, a repetition frequency signal from a delay generator;
• receiving, by the direct digital synthesizer, a clock frequency from a frequency converter;
• producing, by the direct digital synthesizer, a radiofrequency chirp waveform based on the repetition frequency signal and the clock frequency;
• communicating the radiofrequency chirp waveform from the direct digital synthesizer;
• receiving, by an electro optic modulator, the radiofrequency chirp waveform from the direct digital synthesizer;
• receiving, by the electro optic modulator, laser light;
• and
• producing, by the electro optic modulator, the chirped optical frequency comb from the laser light based on the radiofrequency chirp waveform.