Sums of Gauss sums and weights of irreducible codes (Q2567156)

This paper develops a matrix approach to compute a certain sum of Gauss sums that arises in the study of weights of irreducible codes. The authors have further derived a lower bound on the minimum weight of certain irreducible codes. Though the studies made have been restricted to binary codes, however, the methods of this paper applies to codes of odd characteristic. The paper concludes with a conjecture on minimal weight of the code.