In the optical domain, an equalizer is a device that equalizes the gain response over a particular wavelength range. The main reason for this equalization is to enable the cascading of amplifiers. DSP-based equalizer systems have become ubiquitous in many diverse applications including voice, data, and video communications via various transmission media. Typical applications range from acoustic echo cancelers for full-duplex speakerphones to video deghosting systems for terrestrial. We perform a feasibility study of implementing a 16-QAM 112-Gbit/s decision directed equalizer on a state-of-the-art FPGA platform. An FPGA offers the reconfigurability needed to allow for modulation scheme updates, however, its clock rate is limited. Since most lightwave systems employ the binary intensity modulation, we focus on digital optical receivers. As signals travel in a fiber, they are attenuated and distorted, and it is the function of the receiver circuit at the other side of the fiber to generate a clean electrical signal from th l signal to an electrical signal. However, the signal gen-erated by a.
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