The weight distribution of \(C_5(1,n)\) (Q5947250)

Letting \(q\) be an odd prime power and \(r\) and \(n\) be positive integers, \(C_q(r,n)\) is defined to be the code over \(\mathbb{F}_q\) generated by the set of all vectors in \(\mathbb{F}^n_q\) consisting of \(1\)'s and \(0\)'s with at least \(r+1\) \(1\)'s. The authors are interested in the weight distribution of these \(C_q(r,n)\) codes, specializing to the case \(C_q(1,n)\) (other cases seem to be beyond current techniques). The weight distribution of \(C_3(1,n)\) had previously been determined by C. Ding, D. Kohel and S. Ling. In this paper the authors determine the weight distribution for \(C_5(1,n)\). The paper uses results from number theory, including properties of Lucas numbers (\(L_0= 2\), \(L_1=1\); \(L_{n+1}= L_n+ L_{n-1}\) for \(n\geq 1\)). The authors note that their methods do not generalize to higher values of \(q\). So for instance the weight distribution of \(C_7(1,n)\) is still open.