Reduced complexity signal detection and turbo decoding for multitrack magnetic recording channels

Iterative detection/decoding schemes and the use of multiple read heads are two possible methods for increasing read-rates in high-density recording systems. This paper proposes a low complexity (cubic in the number of tracks) detector as an alternative to the exponentially complex multitrack signal detection methods considered. At moderate SNR levels, the proposed detector achieves large read rates (up to 10 bits per channel use) for turbo coded systems in the presence of considerable intertrack interference.