Synchronization for subcarrier communication

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for clock synchronizing an optical system and multiple leaf systems. In some implementations, a method includes: first data is received from an optical system. The first data is detected using a local oscillator signal provided by a local oscillator laser. The first data is processed using a first sampling rate. A frequency of a clock signal supplied by a reference clock is adjusted based on the processed first data. Second data is transmitted to the optical system at a rate based on the clock signal.