  This work is on fast encoding and decoding of polar codes. We propose and
detail 8-bit and 16-bit parallel decoders that can be used to reduce the
decoding latency of the successive-cancellation decoder. These decoders are
universal and can decode flexible-rate and flexible-length polar codes. We also
present fast encoders that can be used to increase the throughput of
serially-implemented polar encoders.
