Low-density parity check codes and iterative decoding for long-haul optical communication systems

• Published in: Journal of lightwave technology Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 438 - 446
• Main Authors: Vasic, B., Djordjevic, I.B., Kostuk, R.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.02.2003; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; AWGN; Belief propagation; Coding, codes; Decoding; Design engineering; Encoders; Exact sciences and technology; Graphs; Information, signal and communications theory; Iterative algorithms; Iterative decoding; Optical communication; Optical devices; Optical fiber communication; Optical fiber polarization; Optical sensors; Parity; Parity check codes; Performance enhancement; Rectangles; Signal and communications theory; System performance; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Transmission and modulation (techniques and equipments); Performance evaluation; belief propagation algorithm; forward-error correction (FEC); Optical telecommunication; Balanced incomplete block designs (BIBDs); optical communications; Iterative decoding; long-haul transmission; Algorithm complexity; Forward error correction; low-density parity check(LDPC) codes; Optical fiber communication; Long distance transmission; Parity check
• ISSN: 0733-8724; 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2003.808769

A forward-error correction (FEC) scheme based on low-density parity check (LDPC) codes and iterative decoding using belief propagation in code graphs is presented in this paper. We show that LDPC codes provide a significant system performance improvement with respect to the state-of-the-art FEC schemes employed in optical communications systems. We present a class of structured codes based on mutually orthogonal Latin rectangles. Such codes have high rates and can lend themselves to very low-complexity encoder/decoder implementations. The system performance is further improved by a code design that eliminates short cycles in a graph employed in iterative decoding.