Improving the Decoding Performance of CA-Polar Codes
Abstract
We investigate the use of modern code-agnostic decoders to convert CA-SCL from an incomplete decoder to a complete one. When CA-SCL fails to identify a codeword that passes the CRC check, we apply a code-agnostic decoder that identifies a codeword that satisfies the CRC. We establish that this approach gives gains of up to 0.2 dB in block error rate for CA-polar codes from the 5G New Radio standard. If, instead, the message had been encoded in a systematic CA-polar code, the gain improves to more than 1.5 dB. Leveraging recent developments in blockwise soft output, we additionally establish that it is possible to control the undetected error rate even when using the CRC for error correction.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Error Correcting Code Techniques
Advanced Wireless Communication Techniques
Coding theory and cryptography
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IEEE Communications Letters
- Publisher
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- Volume
- 30
- Pages
- 3034–3038
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026