A per-survivor phase acquisition and tracking algorithm for detection of TCM signals with phase jitter and frequency error

In this letter we investigate the performance of a per-survivor phase estimation algorithm for detection of trellis-coded modulation (TCM) signals in the presence of phase jitter and frequency error. Phase and frequency estimates are derived based on a second-order phase-locked loop (PLL)-like algorithm. A simplified transient and steady-state analysis of the algorithm recursive equations is derived. A heuristic blind phase acquisition scheme is proposed and shown to achieve good results. Computer simulations are used to compare the algorithm's performance to other methods described in the literature.