Phase-coherent communications without explicit phase tracking

Phase-coherent communications typically requires a reliable phase-tracking algorithm. An initial phase estimate with training symbols allows a receiver to compensate for a motion-induced Doppler shift. Following the training period, however, explicit phase tracking can be avoided in time reversal communications that has been implemented on a block-by-block basis to accommodate time-varying channels. This is accomplished by a smaller block size and adaptive channel estimation using previously detected symbols on a symbol-by-symbol basis. The proposed time reversal approach without explicit phase tracking is demonstrated using experimental data (12–20 kHz) in shallow water.