Coding Theory and Algebraic Combinatorics

This chapter introduces and elaborates on the fruitful interplay of coding theory and algebraic combinatorics, with most of the focus on the interaction of codes with combinatorial designs, finite geometries, simple groups, sphere packings, kissing numbers, lattices, and association schemes. In particular, special interest is devoted to the relationship between codes and combinatorial designs. We describe and recapitulate important results in the development of the state of the art. In addition, we give illustrative examples and constructions, and highlight recent advances. Finally, we provide a collection of significant open problems and challenges concerning future research.Comment: 33 pages; handbook chapter, to appear in: "Selected Topics in Information and Coding Theory", ed. by I. Woungang et al., World Scientific, Singapore, 201

The use of blocking sets in Galois geometries and in related research areas

Blocking sets play a central role in Galois geometries. Besides their intrinsic geometrical importance, the importance of blocking sets also arises from the use of blocking sets for the solution of many other geometrical problems, and problems in related research areas. This article focusses on these applications to motivate researchers to investigate blocking sets, and to motivate researchers to investigate the problems that can be solved by using blocking sets. By showing the many applications on blocking sets, we also wish to prove that researchers who improve results on blocking sets in fact open the door to improvements on the solution of many other problems

LDPC codes associated with linear representations of geometries

We look at low density parity check codes over a finite field K associated with finite geometries T*(2) (K), where K is any subset of PG(2, q), with q = p(h), p not equal char K. This includes the geometry LU(3, q)(D), the generalized quadrangle T*(2)(K) with K a hyperoval, the affine space AG(3, q) and several partial and semi-partial geometries. In some cases the dimension and/or the code words of minimum weight are known. We prove an expression for the dimension and the minimum weight of the code. We classify the code words of minimum weight. We show that the code is generated completely by its words of minimum weight. We end with some practical considerations on the choice of K

Large weight code words in projective space codes

AbstractRecently, a large number of results have appeared on the small weights of the (dual) linear codes arising from finite projective spaces. We now focus on the large weights of these linear codes. For q even, this study for the code Ck(n,q)⊥ reduces to the theory of minimal blocking sets with respect to the k-spaces of PG(n,q), odd-blocking the k-spaces. For q odd, in a lot of cases, the maximum weight of the code Ck(n,q)⊥ is equal to qn+⋯+q+1, but some unexpected exceptions arise to this result. In particular, the maximum weight of the code C1(n,3)⊥ turns out to be 3n+3n-1. In general, the problem of whether the maximum weight of the code Ck(n,q)⊥, with q=3h (h⩾1), is equal to qn+⋯+q+1, reduces to the problem of the existence of sets of points in PG(n,q) intersecting every k-space in 2(mod3) points

Non-linear maximum rank distance codes in the cyclic model for the field reduction of finite geometries

In this paper we construct infinite families of non-linear maximum rank distance codes by using the setting of bilinear forms of a finite vector space. We also give a geometric description of such codes by using the cyclic model for the field reduction of finite geometries and we show that these families contain the non-linear maximum rank distance codes recently provided by Cossidente, Marino and Pavese.Comment: submitted; 22 page

Abstract algebra, projective geometry and time encoding of quantum information

Algebraic geometrical concepts are playing an increasing role in quantum applications such as coding, cryptography, tomography and computing. We point out here the prominent role played by Galois fields viewed as cyclotomic extensions of the integers modulo a prime characteristic $p$. They can be used to generate efficient cyclic encoding, for transmitting secrete quantum keys, for quantum state recovery and for error correction in quantum computing. Finite projective planes and their generalization are the geometric counterpart to cyclotomic concepts, their coordinatization involves Galois fields, and they have been used repetitively for enciphering and coding. Finally the characters over Galois fields are fundamental for generating complete sets of mutually unbiased bases, a generic concept of quantum information processing and quantum entanglement. Gauss sums over Galois fields ensure minimum uncertainty under such protocols. Some Galois rings which are cyclotomic extensions of the integers modulo 4 are also becoming fashionable for their role in time encoding and mutual unbiasedness.Comment: To appear in R. Buccheri, A.C. Elitzur and M. Saniga (eds.), "Endophysics, Time, Quantum and the Subjective," World Scientific, Singapore. 16 page

Non-linear MRD codes from cones over exterior sets

By using the notion of $d$-embedding $\Gamma$ of a (canonical) subgeometry $\Sigma$ and of exterior set with respect to the $h$-secant variety $\Omega_{h}(\mathcal{A})$ of a subset $\mathcal{A}$, $0 \leq h \leq n-1$, in the finite projective space $\mathrm{PG}(n-1,q^n)$, $n \geq 3$, in this article we construct a class of non-linear $(n,n,q;d)$-MRD codes for any $2 \leq d \leq n-1$. A code $\mathcal{C}_{\sigma,T}$ of this class, where $1\in T \subset \mathbb{F}_q^*$ and $\sigma$ is a generator of $\mathrm{Gal}(\mathbb{F}_{q^n}|\mathbb{F}_q)$, arises from a cone of $\mathrm{PG}(n-1,q^n)$ with vertex an $(n-d-2)$-dimensional subspace over a maximum exterior set $\mathcal{E}$ with respect to $\Omega_{d-2}(\Gamma)$. We prove that the codes introduced in [Cossidente, A., Marino, G., Pavese, F.: Non-linear maximum rank distance codes. Des. Codes Cryptogr. 79, 597--609 (2016); Durante, N., Siciliano, A.: Non-linear maximum rank distance codes in the cyclic model for the field reduction of finite geometries. Electron. J. Comb. (2017); Donati, G., Durante, N.: A generalization of the normal rational curve in $\mathrm{PG}(d,q^n)$ and its associated non-linear MRD codes. Des. Codes Cryptogr. 86, 1175--1184 (2018)] are appropriate punctured ones of $\mathcal{C}_{\sigma,T}$ and solve completely the inequivalence issue for this class showing that $\mathcal{C}_{\sigma,T}$ is neither equivalent nor adjointly equivalent to the non-linear MRD code $\mathcal{C}_{n,k,\sigma,I}$, $I \subseteq \mathbb{F}_q$, obtained in [Otal, K., \"Ozbudak, F.: Some new non-additive maximum rank distance codes. Finite Fields and Their Applications 50, 293--303 (2018).]