Forward message passing detector for probe storage

We propose a simple soft-output detection scheme for communication channels characterized by data-dependent noise and/or inter-symbol interference (ISI). The proposed detection algorithm is based on the idea of forward message passing. We discuss a particular embodiment of the corresponding detector for a thermomechanical probe storage read channel. We perform an extensive performance investigation of the forward message passing detector using a simplified probe storage channel model characterized by non-linear inter-symbol interference and non-linear jitter distortion. ©2008 IEEE.