Linear Perfect Codes and a Characterization of the ClassicalDesigns

Abstract

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.