Skew Hadamard designs and their codes

Skew Hadamard designs (4n – 1, 2n – 1, n – 1) are associated to order 4n skew Hadamard matrices in the natural way. We study the codes spanned by their incidence matrices A and by I + A and show that they are self-dual after extension (resp. extension and augmentation) over fields of characteristic dividing n. Quadratic Residues codes are obtained in the case of the Paley matrix. Results on the p-rank of skew Hadamard designs are rederived in that way. Codes from skew Hadamard designs are classified. An optimal self-dual code over GF(5) is rediscovered in length 20. Six new inequivalent [56, 28, 16] self-dual codes over GF(7) are obtained from skew Hadamard matrices of order 56, improving the only known quadratic double circulant code of length 56 over GF(7).     

Codes from lattice and related graphs, and permutation decoding

Codes of length n² and dimension 2n−1 or 2n−2 over the field F_p, for any prime p, that can be obtained from designs associated with the complete bipartite graph K_n,n and its line graph, the lattice graph, are examined. The parameters of the codes for all primes are obtained and PD-sets are found for full permutation decoding for all integers n≥3.     

Ternary self-orthogonal codes of dual distance three and ternary quantum codes of distance three

Ternary self-orthogonal codes with dual distance three and ternary quantum codes of distance three constructed from ternary self-orthogonal codes are discussed in this paper. Firstly, for given code length n ≥ 8, a ternary [n, k]₃ self-orthogonal code with minimal dimension k and dual distance three is constructed. Secondly, for each n ≥ 8, two nested ternary self-orthogonal codes with dual distance two and three are constructed, and consequently ternary quantum code of length n and distance three is constructed via Steane construction. Almost all of these quantum codes constructed via Steane construction are optimal or near optimal, and some of these quantum codes are better than those known before.     

The number of indecomposable codes

A CUPS class of codes is a class that is closed under external direct sums, projections onto components of external direct sums, and formation of equivalent codes. In this paper, formulas are developed to compute the number of indecomposable codes of length n and the number of indecomposable (n, k) codes (both with full support) in a CUPS class $\text{C}$ in terms of the total number of length n and (n, k) codes, respectively, in $\text{C}$. Applications include complete computations of the total number of indecomposable length n codes, the number of indecomposable (n, k) codes, the number of indecomposable (n, k) codes of minimum distance 3 or more, the number of indecomposable length n self-dual codes, and the number of indecomposable length n self-dual codes with minimum distance 4 or more.     

Room squares with super-simple property

Constant-composition codes are a special type of constant-weight codes and have attracted recent interest due to their numerous applications. In a recent work, the authors found that an optimal (n, 5, [2, 1, 1])₄-code of constant-composition can be obtained from a Room square of side n with super-simple property. In this paper, we study the existence problem of super-simple Room squares. The problem is solved leaving only two minimal possible n undetermined.     

Some constructions of linearly optimal group codes

We continue here the research on (quasi)group codes over (quasi)group rings. We give some constructions of [n,n-3,3]_q-codes over F_q for n=2q and n=3q. These codes are linearly optimal, i.e. have maximal dimension among linear codes having a given length and distance. Although codes with such parameters are known, our main results state that we can construct such codes as (left) group codes. In the paper we use a construction of Reed-Solomon codes as ideals of the group ring F_qG where G is an elementary abelian group of order q.     

The lengths of Hermitian self-dual extended duadic codes

Duadic codes are a class of cyclic codes that generalize quadratic residue codes from prime to composite lengths. For every prime power q, we characterize integers n such that there is a duadic code of length n over F_q² with a Hermitian self-dual parity-check extension. We derive asymptotic estimates for the number of such n as well as for the number of lengths for which duadic codes exist.     

Minimal quadratic residue cyclic codes of length 2 n

LetF be a finite field of prime power orderq(odd) and the multiplicative order ofq modulo 2 ⁿ (n>1) be ?(2 ⁿ )/2. Ifn>3, thenq is odd number(prime or prime power) of the form 8m±3. Ifq=8m?3, then the ring $$R_{2^n } = F\left[ x \right]/< x^{2^n } - 1 > $$ has 2n primitive idempotents. The explicit expressions for these primitive idempotents are obtained and the minimal QR cyclic codes of length 2 ⁿ generated by these idempotents are completely described. Ifq=8m+3 then the expressions for the 2n?1 primitive idempotents ofR ₂ ⁿ are obtained. The generating polynomials and the upper bounds of the minimum distance of minimal QR cyclic codes generated by these 2n?1 idempotents are also obtained. The casen=2, 3 is dealt separately.     

Minimal quadratic residue cyclic codes of lengthp n(p odd prime)

The explicit expressions for the 2n + 1 primitive idempotents in $R_{p^ - } = F[x]/< x^{p^ - } - 1 > $ , whereF is the field of prime power orderq and the multiplicative order ofq modulop ⁿ is ?(p ⁿ)/2 (n ≥ 1 andp is an odd prime), are obtained. An algorithm for computing the generating polynomials of the minimal QR cyclic codes of lengthp ⁿ, generated by these primitive idempotents, is given and hence some bounds on the minimum distance of some QR codes of prime length overGF(q)(q = 2, 3, ...) are obtained.     

On maximum length convolutional codes under a trellis complexity constraint

We look at convolutional codes with maximum possible code length for prescribed redundancy, conditioned on constraints on the free distance and on the bit-oriented trellis state complexity. Rate (n−1)/n codes have been studied to some extent in the literature, but more general rates have not been studied much. In this work we consider convolutional codes of rate (n−r)/n, r⩾1. Explicit construction techniques for free distance d_free=3 and 4 codes are described. For codes with r=2, an efficient exhaustive search algorithm is outlined. For the more general case with r⩾2, a heuristic approach is suggested. Several new codes were found for r=1 and in particular for r=2 and 3. Compared to previously known codes of similar free distance and complexity constraints, the new codes have either strictly higher rate, or the same rate but smaller low distance multiplicities.     

Symmetric LDPC codes and local testing

Coding theoretic and complexity theoretic considerations naturally lead to the question of generating symmetric, sparse, redundant linear systems. This paper provides a new way of construction with better parameters and new lower bounds.Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codes are linear codes defined by short constraints (a property essential for local testing of a code). Some of the best (theoretically and practically) used codes are LDPC. Symmetric codes are those in which all coordinates “look the same,” namely there is some transitive group acting on the coordinates which preserves the code. Some of the most commonly used locally testable codes (especially in PCPs and other proof systems), including all “low-degree” codes, are symmetric. Requiring that a symmetric binary code of length n has large (linear or near-linear) distance seems to suggest a “con ict” between 1/rate and density (constraint length). In known constructions, if one is constant, then the other is almost the worst possible - n/poly(logn).Our main positive result simultaneously achieves symmetric low density, constant rate codes generated by a single constraint. We present an explicit construction of a symmetric and transitive binary code of length n, near-linear distance n/(log logn)², of constant rate and with constraints of length (logn)⁴. The construction is in the spirit of Tanner codes, namely the codewords are indexed by the edges of a sparse regular expander graph. The main novelty is in our construction of a transitive (non Abelian!) group acting on these edges which preserves the code. Our construction is one instantiation of a framework we call Cayley Codes developed here, that may be viewed as extending zig-zag product to symmetric codes.Our main negative result is that the parameters obtained above cannot be significantly improved, as long as the acting group is solvable (like the one we use). More specifically, we show that in constant rate and linear distance codes (aka “good” codes) invariant under solvable groups, the density (length of generating constraints) cannot go down to a constant, and is bounded below by (log^(Ω(?)) n)(an Ω(?) iterated logarithm) if the group has a derived series of length ?. This negative result precludes natural local tests with constantly many queries for such solvable “good” codes.     

A construction scheme for linear and non-linear codes

A scheme for construcing linear and non-linear codes is presented. It constructs a code of block length 2n from two constituent codes of block length n. Codes so constructed can be either linear or non-linear even when the constituent codes are linear. The construction of many known linear and non-linear codes using this scheme will be shown.     

On extremely transitive extended perfect codes

We prove that, for every n = 2 ^k with k ≥ 4, there exist nonequivalent extremely transitive extended perfect codes. A transitive extended perfect code we call extremely transitive if the perfect code obtained from this code by puncturing any coordinate position is not transitive. The classification is given for all extended perfect codes of length 16.     

Recursive error correction for general Reed-Muller codes

Reed-Muller (RM) codes of growing length n and distance d are considered over a binary symmetric channel. A recursive decoding algorithm is designed that has complexity of order nlogn and corrects most error patterns of weight (dlnd)/2. The presented algorithm outperforms other algorithms with nonexponential decoding complexity, which are known for RM codes. We evaluate code performance using a new probabilistic technique that disintegrates decoding into a sequence of recursive steps. This allows us to define the most error-prone information symbols and find the highest transition error probability p, which yields a vanishing output error probability on long codes.     

Some Combinatorial Aspects of Constructing Bipartite-Graph Codes

We propose geometrical methods for constructing square 01-matrices with the same number n of units in every row and column, and such that any two rows of the matrix contain at most one unit in common. These matrices are equivalent to n-regular bipartite graphs without 4-cycles, and therefore can be used for the construction of efficient bipartite-graph codes such that both the classes of its vertices are associated with local constraints. We significantly extend the region of parameters m, n for which there exist an n-regular bipartite graph with 2m vertices and without 4-cycles. In that way we essentially increase the region of lengths and rates of the corresponding bipartite-graph codes. Many new matrices are either circulant or consist of circulant submatrices: this provides code parity-check matrices consisting of circulant submatrices, and hence quasi-cyclic bipartite-graph codes with simple implementation.     

Directed graph representation of half-rate additive codes over GF(4)

We show that (n, 2 ⁿ ) additive codes over GF(4) can be represented as directed graphs. This generalizes earlier results on self-dual additive codes over GF(4), which correspond to undirected graphs. Graph representation reduces the complexity of code classification, and enables us to classify additive (n, 2 ⁿ ) codes over GF(4) of length up to 7. From this we also derive classifications of isodual and formally self-dual codes. We introduce new constructions of circulant and bordered circulant directed graph codes, and show that these codes will always be isodual. A computer search of all such codes of length up to 26 reveals that these constructions produce many codes of high minimum distance. In particular, we find new near-extremal formally self-dual codes of length 11 and 13, and isodual codes of length 24, 25, and 26 with better minimum distance than the best known self-dual codes.     

Euclidean and Hermitian LCD MDS codes

Linear codes with complementary duals (abbreviated LCD) are linear codes whose intersection with their dual is trivial. When they are binary, they play an important role in armoring implementations against side-channel attacks and fault injection attacks. Non-binary LCD codes in characteristic 2 can be transformed into binary LCD codes by expansion. On the other hand, being optimal codes, maximum distance separable codes (abbreviated MDS) are of much interest from many viewpoints due to their theoretical and practical properties. However, little work has been done on LCD MDS codes. In particular, determining the existence of q-ary [n, k] LCD MDS codes for various lengths n and dimensions k is a basic and interesting problem. In this paper, we firstly study the problem of the existence of q-ary [n, k] LCD MDS codes and solve it for the Euclidean case. More specifically, we show that for \(q>3\) there exists a q-ary [n, k] Euclidean LCD MDS code, where \(0\le k \le n\le q+1\), or, \(q=2^{m}\), \(n=q+2\) and \(k= 3 \text { or } q-1\). Secondly, we investigate several constructions of new Euclidean and Hermitian LCD MDS codes. Our main techniques in constructing Euclidean and Hermitian LCD MDS codes use some linear codes with small dimension or codimension, self-orthogonal codes and generalized Reed-Solomon codes.     

Codes and Anticodes in the Grassman Graph

Perfect codes and optimal anticodes in the Grassman graph G_q(n, k) are examined. It is shown that the vertices of the Grassman graph cannot be partitioned into optimal anticodes, with a possible exception when n=2k. We further examine properties of diameter perfect codes in the graph. These codes are known to be similar to Steiner systems. We discuss the connection between these systems and “real” Steiner systems.     

Self-dual codes over GF(5)

It is shown that a self-orthogonal code over GF(5) which is generated by words of weight 4 has a decomposition into components belonging to three infinite families: d_n (n = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12,…), e_n (n = 6, 8, 10,…) and F_n (n = 6, 8, 10,…). All maximal self-orthogonal (and self-dual) codes of length ? 12 are classified, and a number of interesting codes of greater length are constructed.