What is polar code?

Polar codes are channel coding schemes developed by researcher Erdal Arikan that can effectively and efficiently transmit data over noisy communication channels. The polar code uses a systematic approach that selects specific bits to send based on their relevance to the message. The code transforms the input symbols, which are binary digits, into a bit-reversed order and alters them using a linear transformation. The sequence is then rearranged again to generate the output bits.

Polar codes are used in 5G mobile networks and advanced communication systems because of their ability to correct errors in transmission quickly and efficiently, without using vast amounts of resources. It offers a high level of transmission reliability with low complexity when compared to traditional error-correcting codes.

Polar coding has also been shown to outperform conventional coding schemes, such as Reed-Solomon codes. The application of Polar codes promises significant improvements in the performance of communication systems and is particularly suitable for high-speed data transmission over wireless channels.