The Honeycomb Framework for Code Bounds

Abstract

We introduce the honeycomb hierarchy, a representation-theoretic framework that gives new asymptotic upper bounds on $R_2(\delta)$. Its first level is the two-row hyperoctahedral representation graph associated with type $S^{(n-k,k)}$. Retaining every two-row irreducible and every coordinate box-transfer channel, together with a moving-projection theorem, yields an explicit four-parameter exponent $\kappa_{\mathrm{HC}}$. The earlier whole-cube exponent $\kappa_H$ is a boundary restriction of this optimization, whereas the fully optimized second MRRW exponent $M_2$ is an exact symmetric slice. The prior best curve is the combined $\kappa_{\mathrm{bin}}=\min\{\kappa_{\mathrm{CW}},\kappa_H\}$, which uses a constant-weight branch $\kappa_{\mathrm{CW}}$. Replacing only the whole-cube branch by the honeycomb bound gives $\kappa_{\mathrm{best}}=\min\{\kappa_{\mathrm{CW}}, \kappa_{\mathrm{HC}}\}$. We prove, on $0<\delta<1/2$, \[ R_2(\delta)\le \kappa_{\mathrm{best}}(\delta) \le \kappa_{\mathrm{bin}}(\delta) \le R_{\mathrm{2MQC}}(\delta)<M_2(\delta),\\[-1mm] \kappa_{\mathrm{best}}(\delta) \le \min\{\kappa_{\mathrm{CW}}(\delta), \kappa_{\mathrm{bal}}(\delta)\} <R_{\mathrm{2MQC}}(\delta), \qquad \kappa_H(\delta)=R_{\mathrm{MQC}}(\delta). \] The hierarchy has two further directions. Increasing the representation depth replaces scalar by matrix-valued transfers on the hive. Increasing the anchor depth localizes it in a stable-set hierarchy. The resulting bounds are monotone in both directions and eventually recover $A_2(n,d)$. A complementary Horn--channel hierarchy gives matrix optimizations whose $2\times2$ level is $\kappa_{\mathrm{HC}}$ and whose $3\times3$ level is a stronger bound. Already at low levels, they can be used to improve the strongest previous general bounds, while the honeycomb framework provides a route towards tighter bounds.