Precoded PRML, serial concatenation, and iterative (turbo) decoding for digital magnetic recording

We show that a high rate serially concatenated code used in conjunction with a preceded partial response equalised magnetic recording channel and iterative decoding can provide similar performance to a turbo code on the same channel. The precoded partial response maximum-likelihood (PRML) read channel is incorporated as the inner code of the concatenated coding scheme and the outer code is a high rate convolutional code. Gains of 4.8 dB above conventional PRML at a bit error rate of 10/sup -5/ for a rate 13/14 code can be achieved.