On automorphisms of geometric Goppa codes (Q911547)

Let \(F/{\mathbb{F}}_ q\) be an algebraic function field of genus g, \(D=P_ 1+...+P_ n\) with pairwise distinct places \(P_ i\) of degree one, and G be another divisor of F such that \(\sup p(G)\cap \sup p(D)=\emptyset\). The geometric Goppa code associated to G and D is by definition \(C(G,D)=\{(x(P_ 1),...,x(P_ n))| x\in L(G)\}\); it is a linear code of length n over \({\mathbb{F}}_ q\). In this paper the problem whether (field)-automorphisms of \(F/{\mathbb{F}}_ q\) yield automorphisms of C(G,D) is discussed in detail. The results are: (i) If \(\sigma \in Aut(F/{\mathbb{F}}_ q)\) satisfies \(\sigma (G)=G\) and \(\sigma (D)=D\) then \(\sigma\) induces an automorphism of C(G,D) by \(\sigma (x(P_ 1),...,x(P_ n))=(x(\sigma (P_ 1)),...,x(\sigma (P_ n)))\). In fact, the assumption \(\sigma (G)=G\) can slightly be weakened. (ii) If \(n>2g+2\) and \(\sigma\neq id\) then the induced automorphism of the code is not the identity. (iii) If F is the rational function field and \(2\leq \dim C(G,D)\leq n-2\) then all automorphisms of the code C(G,D) are induced by automorphisms of \(F/{\mathbb{F}}_ q\) in the above manner. Result (iii) may be reformulated. The codes C(G,D) which are associated with divisors G,D of the rational function field \(F={\mathbb{F}}_ q(z)\) are essentially the same as generalized Reed-Solomon codes, and automorphisms of \({\mathbb{F}}_ q(z)/{\mathbb{F}}_ q\) are projective transformations \(z\mapsto (az+b)/(cz+d)\). Therefore (iii) states that all automorphisms of generalized Reed-Solomon codes are induced by projective transformations (if the code has dimension \(2\leq k\leq n-2)\). This result has been used in a subsequent paper of the author [J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 51, 205-220 (1989; Zbl 0668.94009)] in order to classify all (classical) Goppa codes whose extended code is cyclic.