The distance function on Coxeter-like graphs and self-dual codes

TL;DR

This paper explores the structure of a graph formed by symmetric invertible matrices over _2, describes a distance function, computes the graph's diameter, and establishes a novel connection between matrix-induced codes and self-dual codes, revealing group actions on these codes.

Contribution

It introduces a new graph-theoretic framework for understanding self-dual codes via symmetric matrices and describes the action of the orthogonal group on these codes.

Findings

The distance function on the graph _2 matrices is explicitly described.

The diameter of the graph _2 matrices is computed.

A correspondence between certain matrices and self-dual codes is established.

Abstract

Let $SGL_n(\mathbb{F}_2)$ be the set of all invertible $n\times n$ symmetric matrices over the binary field $\mathbb{F}_2$. Let $\Gamma_n$ be the graph with the vertex set $SGL_n(\mathbb{F}_2)$ where a pair of matrices $\{A,B\}$ form an edge if and only if $\textrm{rank}(A-B)=1$. In particular, $\Gamma_3$ is the well-known Coxeter graph. The distance function $d(A,B)$ in $\Gamma_n$ is described for all matrices $A,B\in SGL_n(\mathbb{F}_2)$. The diameter of $\Gamma_n$ is computed. For odd $n\geq 3$, it is shown that each matrix $A\in SGL_n(\mathbb{F}_2)$ such that $d(A,I)=\frac{n+5}{2}$ and $\textrm{rank}(A-I)=\frac{n+1}{2}$ where $I$ is the identity matrix induces a self-dual code in $\mathbb{F}_2^{n+1}$. Conversely, each self-dual code $C$ induces a family ${\cal F}_C$ of such matrices $A$. The families given by distinct self-dual codes are disjoint. The identification $C\leftrightarrow {\cal F}_C$ provides a graph theoretical description of self-dual codes. A result of Janusz (2007) is reproved and strengthened by showing that the orthogonal group ${\cal O}_n(\mathbb{F}_2)$ acts transitively on the set of all self-dual codes in $\mathbb{F}_2^{n+1}$.