Formally self-dual polynomials (Q1824000)

Let \(F={\mathbb{Z}}/p{\mathbb{Z}}\), p a prime and \(e_ p(k):=(e^{2\pi i/p})^ k\) for \(k\in {\mathbb{Z}}\). A polynomial in the variables \(x_ 0\), \(x_ 1,...,x_{p-1}\) with complex coefficients is called formally self-dual if it is invariant under the substitution \((*)\quad x_ i\to p^{- 1/2}\sum^{p-1}_{j=0}e_ p(ij)x_ j,\) \(i=0,...,p-1\). - These were introduced by \textit{F. J. MacWilliams}, \textit{C. L. Mallows} and \textit{N.J. A. Sloane} [IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory IT-18, 794-805 (1972; Zbl 0248.94013)] to study complete weight enumerators of self-dual codes over F. This was done for \(p=2\) and \(p=3\) using the theory of invariants and generalized by the author to \(p=5\), \(p=7\) [Tr. Tbilis. Univ. 264, Mat. Mekh. Astron. 21, 57-72 (1986; Zbl 0649.12014)]. The present paper studies the ring \(R^ G\) of polynomials in \(R={\mathbb{C}}[x_ 0,...,x_{p-1}]\) that are invariant under the subgroup G (of order 4) of the general linear group, generated by (*). Some other examples are considered. The theorems express these rings as direct sums of polynomial rings in monomials that are invariant under (*).