Left dihedral codes over finite chain rings

Let R be a finite commutative chain ring, $D_{2n}$ be the dihedral group of size 2n and $R[D_{2n}]$ be the dihedral group ring. In this paper, we completely characterize left ideals of $R[D_{2n}]$ (called left $D_{2n}$-codes) when $\gcd (char(R),n)=1$. In this way, we explore the structure of some skew-cyclic codes of length 2 over R and also over $R\times S$, where S is an isomorphic copy of R. As a particular result, we give the structure of cyclic codes of length 2 over R. In the case where $R={\mathbb{F}}_{p^m}$ is a Galois field, we give a classification for left $D_{2N}$-codes over ${\mathbb{F}}_{p^m}$, for any positive integer N. In both cases we determine dual codes and identify self-dual ones.     

Constructing two-weight codes with prescribed groups of automorphisms

We construct new linear two-weight codes over the finite field with q elements. To do so we solve the equivalent problem of finding point sets in the projective geometry with certain intersection properties. These point sets are in bijection to solutions of a Diophantine linear system of equations. To reduce the size of the system of equations we restrict the search for solutions to solutions with special symmetries.Two-weight codes can be used to define strongly regular graphs. We give tables of the two-weight codes and the corresponding strongly regular graphs. In some cases we find new distance-optimal two-weight codes and also new strongly regular graphs.     

Codes Over the p-adic Integers

We study codes over the p-adic integers and correct errors in the existing literature. We show that MDS codes exist over the p-adics for all lengths, ranks and p. We show that self-dual codes exist over the 2-adics if and only if the length is a multiple of 8 and that self-dual codes exist over the p-adics with p odd if and only if the length is 0 (mod 4) for p ≡ 3 (mod 4) and 0 (mod 2) for p ≡ 1 (mod 4).     

Enumeration of inequivalent irreducible Goppa codes

We consider irreducible Goppa codes over F_q of length qⁿ defined by polynomials of degree r, where q is a prime power and n,r are arbitrary positive integers. We obtain an upper bound on the number of such codes.     

A Construction of Optimal Constant Composition Codes

In this paper, a construction of optimal constant composition codes is developed, and used to derive some series of new optimal constant composition codes meeting the upper bound given by [13].     

Codes with a Certain Weight-preserving Transitive Group of Automorphisms

We determine all linear codes C containing the constant code E, for which there is a weight-preserving group of semilinear automorphisms which acts transitively on the set of nontrivial cosets of E in C. Michael Giudici - The author holds an Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship.