Frequency offset estimation algorithm for a multi-subcarrier coherent fiber optical system

We introduce a new technique for obtaining the frequency offset introduced at the receiver due to the heterodyning of the transmitter laser and the local oscillator. This technique is needed for multi-subcarrier systems, as the offset must be removed without knowledge of the modulation format, making well-known algorithms that correct using it impractical. By detecting the spectral edges for the transmitted and received signals, it is possible to get a coarse estimate of the intermediate frequency by finding the difference between these two values. We then use this approximation as a starting point to fine search for the true value, by taking a window of possible values around the approximation. By taking the cross-correlation between the received data and a subset of the transmitted data for the subcarriers, we can verify whether the correct value is chosen, and if not, move on to the next estimate.