A generalized Viterbi algorithm for detection of partial response recording systems

In this work, we study a receiver for a high density recording system and compare it with the PRML recording system. In the receiver, the playback signal of a high density recording system is equalized to a higher-order partial response (PR) target. Also, a reduced-state Viterbi algorithm, called the generalized Viterbi algorithm (GVA), is used for detecting the PR system. In the GVA, the states are grouped into L subsets or lists and the best S paths in each list are selected for extension. Simulation results demonstrate that coding gain over the PRML system can be obtained even for the receiver with less complexity than that of the PRML system.