Application of Chirp Signal in Astronomical Observation

Chirp signal is a signal whose frequency changes continuously with time according to a certain rule. Due to its excellent autocorrelation characteristics, Chirp signal has important application in real-time high-precision spectrum measurement. This paper introduces the characteristics of the Chirp signal and the principle of spectrum measurement based on the pulse compression. It reviews the development of Chirp Transform Spectrometer (CTS) and its application in measurement of infrared spectrum of planetary atmosphere and comets for the last 30 years. Considering the latest electronic technologies, the development trend of CTS is pointed out.