Polar Codes: From Theory to Practice

Understand a cutting-edge new class of error correction codes with this introduction

Channel coding is a pivotal technique employed to account for potential errors due to channel noise or interference by adding layers of redundancy to information prior to transmission or storage. Should errors appear in the transmitted sequence upon reaching its destination, they can be corrected with reference to the redundant layers. Polar codes are a new class of error correction codes that provably achieve the capacity of binary discrete memoryless channels. Their distinct advantages have led to their incorporation in the logical control channels of the fifth generation of wireless communications (5G). Possessing robust and competitive error correction capabilities for short and medium-length codes positions them strategically to fulfill a pivotal role in various communication systems as we move towards the sixth generation of wireless communication (6G) and beyond.

Polar Codes provides a thorough, accessible overview of this new class of codes and its applications. Beginning with the foundational theories underlying polar codes, it guides readers through the construction of polar codes, their variants, and their encoding and decoding processes. The result is a must-have for coding researchers and professionals looking to develop an edge in the wireless communications of the future.

Polar Codes readers will also find:

• Continuous connections between discussed concepts and current 5G standards
• Snippets of code in MATLAB/Python to illustrate key tools
• End of chapter problems and bibliographical notes to facilitate learning and provide references for further reading.

Polar Codes is ideal for graduate students and researchers in coding and information theory, as well as engineers working in communications and related industries.