On GEL codes for partial response channels

This work investigates the performance of a class of concatenated error correcting block codes, called generalized error-locating codes, over partial response channels as they are found in digital magnetic storage systems. Generalized error-locating codes are suited for high-rate high-speed applications due to the low-complexity hard input decoding algorithm. The code and the decoding algorithm is constructed according to the error structure of the channel to spend the redundancy in an advantageous way. Simulation results for the (precoded) partial response channel 1-D² (PR4) compare results for different sector lengths. It is also explained how a modulation constraint can be included in the system. The generalized error-locating codes show an impressive gain over the classically used Reed-Solomon outer codes with comparable decoding complexity.