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Carrier Recovery

Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) for coherent demodulation

+2 Hz
45°
0.05

🔒 PLL LOCKED

Phase error: 0.5°

Input Signal (with offset)

VCO Output (recovered carrier)

Phase Error over Time

How Carrier Recovery Works

Problem: Coherent demodulation requires local carrier synchronized to transmitted carrier in both frequency and phase.

Phase Detector: Multiplies input with VCO output. DC component proportional to phase difference.

Loop Filter: Averages phase error, removes high-frequency components.

VCO: Voltage-Controlled Oscillator adjusts frequency based on filtered error.

Lock: When phase error stays small, PLL is "locked" - carrier is recovered!

Costas Loop: Special PLL that works with suppressed-carrier signals (BPSK, QPSK).