Using multi-dimensional parity-check codes to obtain diversity in Rayleigh fading channels

We investigate the use of a class of multi-dimensional parity-check (MDPC) codes as a simple and spectrally efficient means to obtain diversity in Rayleigh fading channels. We demonstrate that the MDPC codes can provide a maximum of 4 degrees of diversity, requiring only a minimal amount of added redundancy. We also propose two techniques, namely parallel and serial code concatenation, to improve the performance of the MDPC codes in Rayleigh fading channels. In the parallel concatenation technique, multiple MDPC codes are parallel concatenated to improve the performance in low signal-to-noise ratio regions. In the serial concatenation technique, a standard convolutional code is employed as an outer code to increase the maximum degree of diversity and provide further coding gain.