LDPC Codes on Balanced Incomplete Block Designs: Construction, Girth, and Cycle Structure Analysis

In this paper, we investigate the cycle structure inherent in the Tanner graphs of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes constructed from balanced incomplete block designs (BIBDs). We begin by delineating the incidence structure of BIBDs and propose a methodology for constructing LDPC codes based on these designs. By analyzing the incidence relations between points and blocks within a BIBD, we prove that the resulting LDPC codes possess a girth of 6. Subsequently, we provide a detailed analysis of the cycle structure of the constructed LDPC codes and introduce a systematic approach for enumerating their short cycles. Using this method, we determine the exact numbers of cycles of lengths 6 and 8. Simulation results demonstrate that the constructed LDPC codes exhibit excellent performance.