Maximum-Likelihood Phase and Channel Estimation for Coherent Optical OFDM

We present a channel model for a coherent optical orthogonal frequency-division-multiplexed (CO-OFDM) system including linear fiber dispersion effects and noises from optical amplifiers and intercarrier interference induced by laser phase noise. Based upon this model, we derive maximum-likelihood (ML) phase estimation and channel estimation for the CO-OFDM system. Both computer simulation and transmission experiment of the CO-OFDM system show that the ML decision-feedback following pilot-assisted phase estimation gives the optimal performance.