Techniques for non-linear modeling of a physical system are provided using direct optimization of look-up table values. A non-linear system with memory is modeled by obtaining physical data for the non-linear system by applying a set of input samples x(n) to the non-linear system and measuring an output y(n) of the non-linear system; directly computing parameters Φ of a memory model for the non-linear system from the physical data, wherein the memory model comprises one or more look-up tables having linear interpolation and wherein the parameters Φ produce a substantially minimum mean square error; and providing the parameters Φ for storage as entries in the one or more look-up tables. The mean square error can be determined, for example, using one or more of a least squares algorithm, a least mean square algorithm and a recursive least squares algorithm. The look-up tables are optionally used in a processor instruction to implement digital pre-distortion.