Finite-length performance of multi-edge protograph-based spatially coupled LDPC codes

Abstract

The finite-length performance of multi-edge spatially coupled low-density parity-check (SC-LDPC) codes over the binary erasure channel (BEC) is analyzed. Existing scaling laws are extended to arbitrary protograph base matrices that include puncturing patterns and multiple edges between nodes. A regular protograph-based SC-LDPC construction based on the (4, 8)-regular LDPC block code works well in the waterfall region compared to more involved rate-1/2 structures proposed to improve the threshold to minimum distance trade-off. Scaling laws are also used for code design and to estimate the block length of a given SC-LDPC code ensemble to match the performance of some other code. Estimates on the performance degradation are developed if the chain length varies.