Lattices without short characteristic vectors (Q1271372)

A vector \(w\) of an \(n\)-dimensional integral unimodular lattice \(L\) is called characteristic if \(v\cdot w\) is congruent to \(v\cdot v\) mod 2 for all \(v\) in \(L\). It is known since fourty years that such vectors \(w\) always exist and that their ``norm'' \(w\cdot w\) is the signature mod 8. \textit{N. Elkies} [Math. Res. Lett. 2, 321--326 (1995; Zbl 0855.11032), ibid. 2, 643--651 (1995; Zbl 0854.11021)] has asked whether for any non-negative integer \(k\) there exists an \(N(k)\) such that every positive definite unimodular lattice whose characteristic vectors all have norm at least \(n-8k\) must contain at least \(n-N(k)\) pairs of norm 1 vectors. He proved this for \(k = 0\) and 1, with \(N(0) = 0\) and \(N(1) = 23\), and the present author proves it for \(k = 2\) and 3.