Performance of high rate turbo codes on a PR4-equalized magnetic recording channel

We discuss the applicability of high rate turbo codes for magnetic recording, citing in particular the attractiveness of interleaver gain as opposed to coding gain. We then examine the performance of rate 4/5, 8/9, and 16/17 turbo codes on a PRA-equalized magnetic recording channel at a user density of S/sub u/=2.0. Simulation results show that a gain of 7.1 dB relative to the uncoded situation is attainable at an error rate of 10/sup -5/ for the rate 4/5 and 8/9 codes, whereas the rate 16/17 code achieves a gain of 6.5 dB.