On the combination of equalization and coding in saturation recording

The authors establish the importance of considering equalization loss and coding gain together in evaluating the performance of a particular code in a saturation-recording storage channel. They illustrate methods by which it is possible, under this measure of performance, to increase the effective density using well-designed equalizers and codes in combination. It is concluded that, while coding gain of existing codes can be used to increase areal density at fixed or reduced linear density, new codes designed specifically for families of partial-response polynomials at increasing clock rates or density are required for significant further linear density increase