Lattices and codes with long shadows (Q1910661)

Let \(L\) be an integral unimodular lattice in \(\mathbb{R}^n\). A characteristic vector of \(L\) is a \(w\in L\) such that \((v, w)\equiv (v, v)\bmod 2\) for all \(v\in L\). Such vectors form a coset of \(2L\) in \(L\) with \((w, w)\equiv n\pmod 8\). The main result of the author is the following: Let \(L\) be as above and suppose that \(L\) has no vector of norm 1. Then a) \(L\) has at least \(2n (23- n)\) vectors of norm 2. b) Equality holds if and only if \(L\) has no characteristic vectors of norm \(<n-8\). c) In that case the number of characteristic vectors of norm exactly \(n-8\) is \(n2^{n- 11}\). The proof of the theorem makes use of theta series.