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Michael Kiermaier

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Kiermaier.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A subspace code of size $333$ in the setting of a binary $q$-analog of the Fano plane

We show that there is a binary subspace code of constant dimension 3 in ambient dimension 7, having minimum distance 4 and cardinality 333, i.e., $333 \le A_2(7,4;3)$, which improves the previous best known lower bound of 329. Moreover, if a code with these parameters has at least 333 elements, its automorphism group is in one of $31$ conjugacy classes. This is achieved by a more general technique for an exhaustive search in a finite group that does not depend on the enumeration of all subgroups.

math.CO↗

$q$-analogs of group divisible designs

A well known class of objects in combinatorial design theory are {group divisible designs}. Here, we introduce the $q$-analogs of group divisible designs. It turns out that there are interesting connections to scattered subspaces, $q$-Steiner systems, design packings and $q^r$-divisible projective sets. We give necessary conditions for the existence of $q$-analogs of group divsible designs, construct an infinite series of examples, and provide further existence results with the help of a computer search. One example is a $(6,3,2,2)_2$ group divisible design over $\operatorname{GF}(2)$ which is a design packing consisting of $180$ blocks that such every $2$-dimensional subspace in $\operatorname{GF}(2)^6$ is covered at most twice.

math.CO↗

Generalized vector space partitions

A vector space partition $\mathcal{P}$ in $\mathbb{F}_q^v$ is a set of subspaces such that every $1$-dimensional subspace of $\mathbb{F}_q^v$ is contained in exactly one element of $\mathcal{P}$. Replacing "every point" by "every $t$-dimensional subspace", we generalize this notion to vector space $t$-partitions and study their properties. There is a close connection to subspace codes and some problems are even interesting and unsolved for the set case $q=1$.

math.CO↗

Johnson type bounds for mixed dimension subspace codes

Subspace codes, i.e., sets of subspaces of $\mathbb{F}_q^v$, are applied in random linear network coding. Here we give improved upper bounds for their cardinalities based on the Johnson bound for constant dimension codes.

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The lengths of projective triply-even binary codes

It is shown that there does not exist a binary projective triply-even code of length $59$. This settles the last open length for projective triply-even binary codes. Therefore, projective triply-even binary codes exist precisely for lengths $15$, $16$, $30$, $31$, $32$, $45$--$51$, and $\ge 60$.

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Classifying optimal binary subspace codes of length 8, constant dimension 4 and minimum distance 6

The maximum size $A_2(8,6;4)$ of a binary subspace code of packet length $v=8$, minimum subspace distance $d=6$, and constant dimension $k=4$ is $257$, where the $2$ isomorphism types are extended lifted maximum rank distance codes. In finite geometry terms the maximum number of solids in $\operatorname{PG}(7,2)$, mutually intersecting in at most a point, is $257$. The result was obtained by combining the classification of substructures with integer linear programming techniques. This implies that the maximum size $A_2(8,6)$ of a binary mixed-dimension code of packet length $8$ and minimum subspace distance $6$ is $257$ as well.

math.CO↗

Constructions and Bounds for Mixed-Dimension Subspace Codes

Codes in finite projective spaces equipped with the subspace distance have been proposed for error control in random linear network coding. The resulting so-called \emph{Main Problem of Subspace Coding} is to determine the maximum size $A_q(v,d)$ of a code in $\operatorname{PG}(v-1,\mathbb{F}_q)$ with minimum subspace distance $d$. Here we completely resolve this problem for $d\ge v-1$. For $d=v-2$ we present some improved bounds and determine $A_q(5,3)=2q^3+2$ (all $q$), $A_2(7,5)=34$. We also provide an exposition of the known determination of $A_q(v,2)$, and a table with exact results and bounds for the numbers $A_2(v,d)$, $v\leq 7$.

math.CO↗

Classification of large partial plane spreads in $PG(6,2)$ and related combinatorial objects

In this article, the partial plane spreads in $PG(6,2)$ of maximum possible size $17$ and of size $16$ are classified. Based on this result, we obtain the classification of the following closely related combinatorial objects: Vector space partitions of $PG(6,2)$ of type $(3^{16} 4^1)$, binary $3\times 4$ MRD codes of minimum rank distance $3$, and subspace codes with parameters $(7,17,6)_2$ and $(7,34,5)_2$.

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Projective divisible binary codes

For which positive integers $n,k,r$ does there exist a linear $[n,k]$ code $C$ over $\mathbb{F}_q$ with all codeword weights divisible by $q^r$ and such that the columns of a generating matrix of $C$ are projectively distinct? The motivation for studying this problem comes from the theory of partial spreads, or subspace codes with the highest possible minimum distance, since the set of holes of a partial spread of $r$-flats in $\operatorname{PG}(v-1,\mathbb{F}_q)$ corresponds to a $q^r$-divisible code with $k\leq v$. In this paper we provide an introduction to this problem and report on new results for $q=2$.

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Partial spreads and vector space partitions

Constant-dimension codes with the maximum possible minimum distance have been studied under the name of partial spreads in Finite Geometry for several decades. Not surprisingly, for this subclass typically the sharpest bounds on the maximal code size are known. The seminal works of Beutelspacher and Drake \& Freeman on partial spreads date back to 1975, and 1979, respectively. From then until recently, there was almost no progress besides some computer-based constructions and classifications. It turns out that vector space partitions provide the appropriate theoretical framework and can be used to improve the long-standing bounds in quite a few cases. Here, we provide a historic account on partial spreads and an interpretation of the classical results from a modern perspective. To this end, we introduce all required methods from the theory of vector space partitions and Finite Geometry in a tutorial style. We guide the reader to the current frontiers of research in that field, including a detailed description of the recent improvements.

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Algebraic structures of MRD Codes

Based on results in finite geometry we prove the existence of MRD codes in (F_q)_(n,n) with minimum distance n which are essentially different from Gabidulin codes. The construction results from algebraic structures which are closely related to those of finite fields. Some of the results may be known to experts, but to our knowledge have never been pointed out explicitly in the literature.

cs.IT↗

A new series of large sets of subspace designs over the binary field

In this article, we show the existence of large sets $\operatorname{LS}_2[3](2,k,v)$ for infinitely many values of $k$ and $v$. The exact condition is $v \geq 8$ and $0 \leq k \leq v$ such that for the remainders $\bar{v}$ and $\bar{k}$ of $v$ and $k$ modulo $6$ we have $2 \leq \bar{v} < \bar{k} \leq 5$. The proof is constructive and consists of two parts. First, we give a computer construction for an $\operatorname{LS}_2[3](2,4,8)$, which is a partition of the set of all $4$-dimensional subspaces of an $8$-dimensional vector space over the binary field into three disjoint $2$-$(8, 4, 217)_2$ subspace designs. Together with the already known $\operatorname{LS}_2[3](2,3,8)$, the application of a recursion method based on a decomposition of the Graßmannian into joins yields a construction for the claimed large sets.

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New upper bounds on binary linear codes and a $\mathbb Z_4$-code with a better-than-linear Gray image

Using integer linear programming and table-lookups we prove that there is no binary linear $[1988, 12, 992]$ code. As a by-product, the non-existence of binary linear codes with the parameters $[324, 10, 160]$, $[356, 10, 176]$, $[772,11,384]$, and $[836,11,416]$ is shown. Our work is motivated by the recent construction of the extended dualized Kerdock code $\hat{\mathcal{K}}^*_{6}$, which is a $\mathbb{Z}_4$-linear code having a non-linear binary Gray image with the parameters $(1988,2^{12},992)$. By our result, the code $\hat{\mathcal{K}}^*_{6}$ can be added to the small list of $\mathbb{Z}_4$-codes for which it is known that the Gray image is better than any binary linear code.

cs.IT↗

Large sets of subspace designs

In this article, three types of joins are introduced for subspaces of a vector space. Decompositions of the Graßmannian into joins are discussed. This framework admits a generalization of large set recursion methods for block designs to subspace designs. We construct a $2$-$(6,3,78)_5$ design by computer, which corresponds to a halving $\operatorname{LS}_5[2](2,3,6)$. The application of the new recursion method to this halving and an already known $\operatorname{LS}_3[2](2,3,6)$ yields two infinite two-parameter series of halvings $\operatorname{LS}_3[2](2,k,v)$ and $\operatorname{LS}_5[2](2,k,v)$ with integers $v\geq 6$, $v\equiv 2\mod 4$ and $3\leq k\leq v-3$, $k\equiv 3\mod 4$. Thus in particular, two new infinite series of nontrivial subspace designs with $t = 2$ are constructed. Furthermore as a corollary, we get the existence of infinitely many nontrivial large sets of subspace designs with $t = 2$.

math.CO↗

On the automorphism group of a binary $q$-analog of the Fano plane

The smallest set of admissible parameters of a $q$-analog of a Steiner system is $S_2[2,3,7]$. The existence of such a Steiner system -- known as a binary $q$-analog of the Fano plane -- is still open. In this article, the automorphism group of a putative binary $q$-analog of the Fano plane is investigated by a combination of theoretical and computational methods. As a conclusion, it is either rigid or its automorphism group is cyclic of order $2$, $3$ or $4$. Up to conjugacy in $\operatorname{GL}(7,2)$, there remains a single possible group of order $2$ and $4$, respectively, and two possible groups of order $3$. For the automorphisms of order $2$, we give a more general result which is valid for any binary $q$-Steiner triple system.

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On putative q-Analogues of the Fano Plane and Related Combinatorial Structures

A set $\mathcal{F}_q$ of $3$-dimensional subspaces of $\mathbb{F}_q^7$, the $7$-dimensional vector space over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_q$, is said to form a $q$-analogue of the Fano plane if every $2$-dimensional subspace of $\mathbb{F}_q^7$ is contained in precisely one member of $\mathcal{F}_q$. The existence problem for such $q$-analogues remains unsolved for every single value of $q$. Here we report on an attempt to construct such $q$-analogues using ideas from the theory of subspace codes, which were introduced a few years ago by Koetter and Kschischang in their seminal work on error-correction for network coding. Our attempt eventually fails, but it produces the largest subspace codes known so far with the same parameters as a putative $q$-analogue. In particular we find a ternary subspace code of new record size $6977$, and we are able to construct a binary subspace code of the largest currently known size $329$ in an entirely computer-free manner.

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New arcs in projective Hjelmslev planes over Galois rings

It is known that some good linear codes over a finite ring (R-linear codes) arise from interesting point constellations in certain projective geometries. For example, the expurgated Nordstrom-Robinson code, a nonlinear binary [14,6,6]-code which has higher minimum distance than any linear binary [14,6]-code, can be constructed from a maximal 2-arc in the projective Hjelmslev plane over Z_4.

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