Orthogonal Arrays and Galois Fields

Consider a maximum-length shift-register sequence generated by a primitive polynomial f over a finite field. The set of its subintervals is a linear code whose dual code is formed by all polynomials divisible by f. Since the minimum weight of dual codes is directly related to the strength of the corresponding orthogonal arrays, we can produce orthogonal arrays by studying divisibility of polynomials. Munemasa (Finite Fields Appl 4(3):252---260, 1998) uses trinomials over $${\mathbb{F}_2}$$ to construct orthogonal arrays of guaranteed strength 2 (and almost strength 3). That result was extended by Dewar et al. (Des Codes Cryptogr 45:1---17, 2007) to construct orthogonal arrays of guaranteed strength 3 by considering divisibility of trinomials by pentanomials over $${\mathbb{F}_2}$$ . Here we first simplify the requirement in Munemasa's approach that the characteristic polynomial of the sequence must be primitive: we show that the method applies even to the much broader class of polynomials with no repeated roots. Then we give characterizations of divisibility for binomials and trinomials over $${\mathbb{F}_3}$$ . Some of our results apply to any finite field $${\mathbb{F}_q}$$ with q elements.

Introduction. The problem of mathematical safe arises in the theory of computer games and cryptographic applications. The article considers numerous variations of the mathematical safe problem and examples of its solution using systems of linear Diophantine equations in finite rings and fields. The purpose of the article. To present methods for solving the problem of a mathematical safe for its various variations, which are related both to the domain over which the problem is considered and to the structure of systems of linear equations over these domains. To consider the problem of a mathematical safe (in matrix and graph forms) in different variations over different finite domains and to demonstrate the work of methods for solving this problem and their efficiency (systems over finite simple fields, finite fields, ghost rings and finite associative-commutative rings). Results. Examples of solving the problem of a mathematical safe, the conditions for the existence of solutions in different areas, over which this problem is considered. The choice of the appropriate area over which the problem of the mathematical safe is considered, and the appropriate algorithm for solving it depends on the number of positions of the latches of the safe. All these algorithms are accompanied by estimates of their time complexity, which were considered in the first part of this paper. Conclusions. The considered methods and algorithms for solving linear equations and systems of linear equations in finite rings and fields allow to solve the problem of a mathematical safe in a large number of variations of its formulation (over finite prime field, finite field, primary associative-commutative ring and finite associative-commutative ring with unit). Keywords: mathematical safe, finite rings, finite fields, method, algorithm.

From the 19th century, the theory of permutation polynomial over finite fields, that are arose in the work of Hermite and Dickson, has drawn general attention. Permutation polynomials over finite fields are an active area of research due to their rising applications in mathematics and engineering. The last three decades has seen rapid progress on the research on permutation polynomials due to their diverse applications in cryptography, coding theory, finite geometry, combinatorics and many more areas of mathematics and engineering. For this reason, the study of permutation polynomials is important nowadays. In this chapter, we propose some new problems in connection to permutation polynomials over finite fields by the help of prime numbers.

This thesis focuses on the interplay of extremal combinatorics and finite geometry. Combinatorics is concerned with discrete (and usually finite) objects. Extremal combinatorics studies how large or how small a collection of finite objects can be under certain restrictions. Those objects can be sets, graphs, vectors, etc. These questions are often motivated by problems in information theory and computer science. Another branch of combinatorics is finite geometry over finite fields of order q. Although there is no field of order 1, certain substructures in finite geometry can be interpreted as versions of projective spaces for q = 1. A triangle in a projective plane is a good example of this phenomenon. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 gives an overview of some classical problems and their q-analogues in extremal combinatorics. The most recent results for the q-analogues of Sperner's theorem, the Erdös-Ko-Rado theorem and several versions of Bollobás's theorem are described. For the q-analogue of the Hilton-Milner theorem we give some new results. We also give a new bound for the minimum size of the q-analogue of small maximal cliques. We conclude that sometimes results for a q-analogue can be obtained by using the same technique as in the original problem. In some cases the answer to the problem is even identical to that of the original problem. In other cases techniques used for the q-analogue could be used for improving bounds for the original problem. The third chapter describes the known results for the chromatic number of the Kneser graphs and gives new bounds for the chromatic number of the q-analogue. The vertices of a Kneser graph are subsets (of a fixed size) of a set, whereas two vertices are adjacent if they are disjoint in their subset representation. In 1955 M. Kneser conjectured the chromatic number of those graphs. In 1978 this was proven correct by L. Lóvasz. Two small cases in the projective space q-analogue were solved in 2001 by J. Eisfeld, L. Storme and P. Sziklai and in 2006 by A. Chowdhury, C. Godsil and G. Royle. We describe an asymptotic result for all cases (except for one parameter family, where we give a partial proof) using the bounds from the q-analogue of the Hilton-Milner theorem. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 describe other q-analogues of the Kneser graphs. In Chapter 4 we define a family of Kneser type graphs over pairs of incident points and hyperplanes of a projective space. We describe large maximal cocliques in these graphs and prove that for small dimensions these are the largest possible cocliques. We conjecture that this is the case for all dimensions. In Chapter 5 we extend the Kneser graphs to the case of finite polar spaces instead of finite projective spaces and in some cases give descriptions and chromatic numbers of these graphs. Chapter 6 describes the generalization of Kneser graphs over coset spaces of Chevalley groups (parameterized by q) with respect to parabolic subgroups. This encompasses all previous cases and extends to some interesting new cases. First we describe these graphs when q = 1 and give chromatic numbers for some families. Then we consider the graphs defined over coset spaces of Chevalley groups for general q with respect to parabolic subgroups and study what results of the q = 1 case can be translated to the general case. In this thesis we found different possibilities for the connection between the bounds for the q = 1 case and the case for general q. In some cases the bounds for the general case are identical to the bounds for q = 1. In other cases we obtain the bounds for q = 1 by taking the limit for q¿1 in the general bound. Other cases show a completely different bound in both cases.

Finite fields play important roles in many application areas such as coding theory, cryptography, Monte Carlo and quasi-Monte Carlo methods, pseudorandom number generation, quantum computing, and wireless communication. In this book we will focus on sequences, character sums, and polynomials over finite fields in view of the above mentioned application areas: Chapters 1 and 2 deal with sequences mainly constructed via characters and analyzed using bounds on character sums. Chapters 3, 5, and 6 deal with polynomials over finite fields. Chapters 4 and 9 consider problems related to coding theory studied via finite geometry and additive combinatorics, respectively. Chapter 7 deals with quasirandom points in view of applications to numerical integration using quasi-Monte Carlo methods and simulation. Chapter 8 studies aspects of iterations of rational functions from which pseudorandom numbers for Monte Carlo methods can be derived. The goal of this book is giving an overview of several recent research directions as well as stimulating research in sequences and polynomials under the unified framework of character theory.

We report on an optically pumped magnetometer that uses multiple laser beams to pump and probe spin-polarized Cs atoms. The selected sensor geometry allows for operation in finite magnetic fields as well as close to zero field. In finite fields the magnetometer employs free spin precession signals to determine the field modulus and direction as described in a separate publication. This publication focuses on the magnetometer operation close to zero field, which is based on a ground state Hanle resonance. The four laser beams permit the simultaneous measurement of two orthogonal magnetic field components in a differential detection scheme that greatly suppresses technical laser power noise. Sensitivities better than 54 fT/Hz1/2 could be demonstrated simultaneously for both measurement channels in a well shielded environment. A minimum Allan deviation, limited by residual field fluctuations, of better than 40 fT was observed for integration times of 2s. The magnetometer achieves high sensitivity and stability in offset fields as well as close to zero field and is, thus, a universal tool for low frequency magnetic field measurements.

Characterizations and constructions of n-to-1 mappings over finite fields

Adjacency preservers on invertible hermitian matrices I

We introduce the study of frames and equiangular lines in classical geometries over finite fields. After developing the basic theory, we give several examples and demonstrate finite field analogs of equiangular tight frames (ETFs) produced by modular difference sets, and by translation and modulation operators. Using the latter, we prove that Gerzon's bound is attained in each unitary geometry of dimension d=22l+1 over the field F32. We also investigate interactions between complex ETFs and those in finite unitary geometries, and we show that every complex ETF implies the existence of ETFs with the same size over infinitely many finite fields.

We are very pleased to introduce this special issue on Sequences and their Applications. Sequences (and arrays, their higher-dimensional relatives) exhibit a strong interplay between theory and application. In one direction, the study of sequences has benefitted greatly from motivating applications in communications, cryptography, coding, and combinatorics. In the other direction, the development of the theory of sequences using tools from finite fields, finite geometry, analysis and number theory has enabled the solution of practical design problems in emerging applications. The purpose of this special issue is to highlight advances in both the theory and application of sequences. The invited paper “A complementary construction using mutually unbiased bases” by G. Wu and M. Parker introduces a previously unrecognized connection between the construction of pairs of (Golay) complementary sequences and arrays, that are particularly valuable in wireless communications, and the mutually unbiased bases of quantum information theory. This novel point of view opens up new directions for research into complementary sequences. The paper “A simple suboptimal construction of cross-bifix-free codes” by D. Bajic and T. Loncar-Turukalo concerns the construction of sets of codewords (sequences) that are suitable for communications synchronization, in the sense that no codeword ends the way another one starts. The paper has both expository and historical value: an earlier version influenced the development of international mobile communications standards as a research report in 2007, but until now its contents have not been made publically available. Cryptogr. Commun. (2014) 6:1–2 DOI 10.1007/s12095-014-0098-1

Let m be a positive integer, q be a prime power, and PG(2,q) be the projective plane over the finite field \({\mathbb{F}_q}\). Finding complete m-arcs in PG(2,q) of size less than q is a classical problem in finite geometry. In this paper we give a complete answer to this problem when q is relatively large compared with m, explicitly constructing the smallest m-arcs in the literature so far for any m ≥ 8. For any fixed m, our arcs \({{\cal A}_{q,m}}\) satisfy \(\left| {{{\cal A}_{q,m}}} \right| - q \to - \infty \) as q grows. To produce such m-arcs, we develop a Galois theoretical machinery that allows the transfer of geometric information of points external to the arc, to arithmetic one, which in turn allows to prove the m-completeness of the arc.

Three families of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes are constructed based on the totally isotropic subspaces of symplectic, unitary, and orthogonal spaces over finite fields, respectively. The minimum distances of the three families of LDPC codes in some special cases are settled.

Strongly regular graphs (SRGs) provide a fertile area of exploration in algebraic combinatorics, integrating techniques in graph theory, linear algebra, group theory, finite fields, finite geometry, and number theory. Of particular interest are those SRGs with a large automorphism group. If an automorphism group acts regularly (sharply transitively) on the vertices of the graph, then we may identify the graph with a subset of the group, a partial difference set (PDS), which allows us to apply techniques from group theory to examine the graph. Much of the work over the past four decades has concentrated on abelian PDSs using the powerful techniques of character theory. However, little work has been done on nonabelian PDSs. In this paper we point out the existence of genuinely nonabelian PDSs, that is, PDSs for parameter sets where a nonabelian group is the only possible regular automorphism group. We include methods for demonstrating that abelian PDSs are not possible for a particular set of parameters or for a particular SRG. Four infinite families of genuinely nonabelian PDSs are described, two of which—one arising from triangular graphs and one arising from Krein covers of complete graphs constructed by Godsil—are new. We also include a new nonabelian PDS found by computer search and present some possible future directions of research.

Many hard combinatorial problems can be modeled by a system of polynomial equations. N. Alon coined the term polynomial method to describe the use of nonlinear polynomials when solving combinatorial problems. We continue the exploration of the polynomial method and show how the algorithmic theory of polynomial ideals can be used to detect $k$-colorability, unique Hamiltonicity, and automorphism rigidity of graphs. Our techniques are diverse and involve Nullstellensatz certificates, linear algebra over finite fields, Gröbner bases, toric algebra, convex programming, and real algebraic geometry.

A new definition for the dimension of a combinatorial t- (v,k,\lambda) design over a finite field is proposed. The complementary designs of the hyperplanes in a finite projective or affine geometry, and the finite Desarguesian planes in particular, are characterized as the unique (up to isomorphism) designs with the given parameters and minimum dimension. This generalizes a well-known characterization of the binary hyperplane designs in terms of their minimum 2-rank. The proof utilizes the q-ary analogue of the Hamming code, and a group-theoretic characterization of the classical designs.