Constacyclic Codes over Finite Chain Rings of Characteristic p

Let R be a finite commutative chain ring of characteristic p with invariants p,r, and k. In this paper, we study λ-constacyclic codes of an arbitrary length N over R, where λ is a unit of R. We first reduce this to investigate constacyclic codes of length ps (N=n1ps,p∤n1) over a certain finite chain ring CR(uk,rb) of characteristic p, which is an extension of R. Then we use discrete Fourier transform (DFT) to construct an isomorphism γ between R[x]/<xN−λ> and a direct sum ⊕b∈IS(rb) of certain local rings, where I is the complete set of representatives of p-cyclotomic cosets modulo n1. By this isomorphism, all codes over R and their dual codes are obtained from the ideals of S(rb). In addition, we determine explicitly the inverse of γ so that the unique polynomial representations of λ-constacyclic codes may be calculated. Finally, for k=2 the exact number of such codes is provided.

Decoding Linear Codes over Chain Rings Given by Parity Check Matrices

We design a decoding algorithm for linear codes over finite chain rings given by their parity check matrices. It is assumed that decoding algorithms over the residue field are known at each degree of the adic decomposition.

On Automorphism Groups of Finite Chain Rings

A finite ring with an identity is a chain ring if its lattice of left ideals forms a unique chain. Let R be a finite chain ring with invaraints p,n,r,k,k′,m. If n=1, the automorphism group Aut(R) of R is known. The main purpose of this article is to study the structure of Aut(R) when n>1. First, we prove that Aut(R) is determined by the automorphism group of a certain commutative chain subring. Then we use this fact to find the automorphism group of R when p∤k. In addition, Aut(R) is investigated under a more general condition; that is, R is very pure and p need not divide k. Based on the j-diagram introduced by Ayoub, we were able to give the automorphism group in terms of a particular group of matrices. The structure of the automorphism group of a finite chain ring depends essentially on its invaraints and the associated j-diagram.