On the Polar Code Encoding in Fading Channels

TL;DR

This paper investigates the construction of polar codes in fading channels, proposing an SNR selection method that improves BER performance by accounting for channel fading effects.

Contribution

It introduces a new approach for selecting the design-SNR in polar code construction tailored for fading channels, enhancing error rate performance.

Findings

Derived an input SNR for better BER in fading channels

Studied SNR selection from an information-theoretic perspective

Showed small rate sacrifices can significantly improve BER

Abstract

Besides the determined construction of polar codes in BEC channels, different construction techniques have been proposed for AWGN channels. The current state-of-the-art algorithm starts with a design-SNR (or an operating SNR) and then processing is carried out to approximate each individual bit channel. However, as found in this paper, for fading channels, an operating SNR can not be directly used in approximating the bit channels. To achieve a better BER performance, the input SNR for the polar code construction in fadding channels is derived. A selection of the design-SNR for both the AWGN and the fading channels from an information theoretical point of view is studied. Also presented in this paper is the study of sacrificing a small data rate to gain orders of magnitude increase in the BER performance.