Combined Data Detection Scheme for Zero-Padded OFDM Signals in MMF Links

In this letter, we propose a receiver scheme for zero-padded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) that combines low complexity from overlap-and-add equalizer and low error rate provided by successive interference cancellation data detection from optimal ordering vertical Bell Laboratories layered space-time (V-BLAST) architecture. Results of numerical simulations on multimode optical fiber links show that the proposed scheme improves the error rate performance of zero forcing (ZF) equalization receiver, reaching results similar to V-BLAST. For example, the proposed scheme can reach 33.9 Gb/s in a 600-m link, whereas the ZF receiver would reach 29.06 Gb/s and cyclic prefix OFDM only 19.37 Gb/s. These results are obtained with a reduction in computational complexity (measured in number of real products) of 86% in detection and 66% in preprocessing with respect to the ZF receiver, and 75% and 97% with respect to the V-BLAST receiver.