A coherent optical receiver includes equalizer circuitry having a plurality of taps, the equalizer circuitry being configured to receive an input signal and compensate for polarization mode dispersion affecting the input signal to generate a compensated input signal. The coherent optical receiver further includes error evaluation circuitry configured to calculate a determinant of a frequency-domain (FD) coefficient-based matrix using a plurality of tap signals from among the plurality of taps, adjust an error of convergence of the compensated input signal to generate an adjusted input signal, and iteratively adjust the determinant of the FD coefficient-based matrix based on the adjusted input signal to minimize the error of convergence.