Papers for

communication engineers

Papers whose findings have a practical use for this group, as judged from the abstract. Open a paper to read what it means in practice.

Stationary gaussian channel capacity achieved with optimal feedback scheme

Feedback Capacity of Stationary Gaussian Channels: An Optimal Schalkwijk-Kailath Scheme

Abstract: We consider channels with additive colored Gaussian noise and noiseless feedback. Kim's seminal work derived a stationary variational characterization of feedback capacity and further asserted that the capacity-achieving stationary input need not contain a feedback-independent Gaussian component. These results led to the construction of a simple coding scheme, based on the Schalkwijk--Kailath (SK) refinement principle, which was shown to be capacity-achieving. A recent note identified a gap in the proof of the feedback-independent component-removal assertion, thereby leaving the optimality of the SK scheme and subsequent results that rely on it incomplete. In this paper, we prove the component-removal assertion for channels with stationary Gaussian noise that has a rational power spectral density. Our proof uses a perturbation analysis of a convex optimization formulation of feedback capacity and, indeed, shows that every optimizer assigns zero power to the feedback-independent component. Using this stronger property, we construct from any optimizer an explicit SK coding scheme that achieves every rate below feedback capacity with doubly-exponentially decaying maximal error probability.

Thu 10 SeptInformation Theory
The gist
This paper solves a problem about how to send messages over noisy communication channels when you get perfect feedback. The authors prove that a certain straightforward way of encoding messages, based on an older technique called the Schalkwijk-Kailath scheme, indeed achieves the best possible transmission rate. They also show that you don’t need to waste power on sending parts of the message unrelated to feedback. This strengthens understanding of communication limits for channels that have certain types of noise.
Open 2609.12069v1

Linear codes tied to shapes improve error correction and efficiency

Linear Codes over $\mathbb{F}_{q}+u\mathbb{F}_{q}$ associated with Simplicial Complexes, Their Gray Images, and Subfield Codes

Abstract: In recent years, simplicial complexes have gained considerable attention as a useful tool for constructing distance-optimal codes over finite fields. In this article, we construct four infinite families of linear codes over the ring $\mathcal{R}=\mathbb{F}_{q}+u\mathbb{F}_{q}$ with $u^2=0$ using simplicial complexes with one or two maximal elements, and completely determine their Lee weight distributions via exponential-sum techniques. By employing a Gray map on $\mathcal{R}$, we obtain infinite families of distance-optimal codes over $\mathbb{F}_{q}$, including a near-Griesmer family, and establish sufficient conditions for their minimality. Furthermore, we investigate the corresponding subfield codes and derive sufficient conditions for their distance-optimality and minimality, yielding infinite families of Griesmer and near-Griesmer codes.

Thu 10 SeptInformation Theory
The gist
Coding theory helps send data accurately despite errors. The authors use special shapes called simplicial complexes to build new families of codes over a special type of number system. These codes have good error detection and correction properties, measured by their weight distributions, and can be translated into codes over common finite fields. They also find conditions that ensure the codes are minimal, meaning simpler and efficient. This work extends coding techniques by linking geometry-like structures to practical code designs.
Open 2609.11783v1

Streamlined formula gives precise codeword weights in affine grassmann codes

Revisiting the Weight Spectrum of the Affine Grassmann Code $C^{\mathbb{A}}(2,m)$

Abstract: Affine Grassmann codes, introduced by Beelen, Ghorpade and Høholdt, are linear codes over $\mathbb{F}_q$ obtained by evaluating linear combinations of minors of a generic matrix. The weight spectrum of the affine Grassmann code $C^{\mathbb{A}}(2,m)$ was determined by Piñero and Singh via a case analysis on the rank of an associated alternating matrix. We give an independent and more streamlined derivation, valid for all $m\ge4$ and every prime power $q$, in which each codeword is written in a compact matrix form and its Hamming weight is expressed through a single closed formula involving two explicit affine subspaces and their intersection.

Wed 9 SeptInformation Theory
The gist
Affine Grassmann codes are special tools used in coding theory, where data is transformed using mathematical matrices. Finding the 'weight spectrum' means understanding how codewords vary in a measurable way called Hamming weight, which affects error correction. Previously, this involved complicated case-by-case analysis based on matrix properties. The authors provide a simpler, unified formula that expresses these weights clearly for a broad range of parameters, making it easier to understand and work with these codes.
Open 2609.10274v1

Polynomial time algorithm improves error correction for Reed-Solomon codes

Algorithmic List Decoding of Reed-Solomon Codes up to Capacity

Abstract: We give a deterministic polynomial-time list-decoding algorithm for Reed-Solomon codes over prime fields that approaches list-decoding capacity for every evaluation set and every constant rate.

Mon 7 SeptInformation TheoryComputational Complexity
The gist
Error-correcting codes help fix mistakes in data transmissions. Reed-Solomon codes are widely used for this purpose, but correcting many errors efficiently has been challenging. The authors present a new method that can decode these codes faster and closer to their theoretical limit for any chosen parameters. This means better reliability in sending data over noisy channels.
Open 2609.08005v1