Optical frequency comb based parallel FM LIDAR

A device for light detection and ranging (LIDAR), the device comprising:

• a laser light source configured to generate first laser light having a first laser frequency which is frequency modulated with a first frequency modulation;
• a non-linear optical element configured to receive the first laser light and generate therefrom second laser light having a comb-like frequency spectrum with a plurality of second laser frequencies which are each frequency modulated with a second frequency modulation defined by the first frequency modulation, with a frequency excursion of the second frequency modulation being smaller than a spacing of the second laser frequencies;
• a diffractive element configured to spatially separate the second laser light according to the second laser frequencies and direct the spatially separated second laser light towards a ranging region, with each of the second laser frequencies being directed towards a corresponding spatially distinct target position in the ranging region;
• and
• a detector configured to receive reflections of the second laser light from the ranging region and to measure, by simultaneously detecting a frequency modulation of the reflections for each of the second laser frequencies, at least one of a distance and a velocity at the target position corresponding to the second laser frequency.