English

One-weight codes in the sum-rank metric

Information Theory 2025-11-25 v2 Combinatorics math.IT

Abstract

One-weight codes, in which all nonzero codewords share the same weight, form a highly structured class of linear codes with deep connections to finite geometry. While their classification is well understood in the Hamming and rank metrics - being equivalent to (direct sums of) simplex codes - the sum-rank metric presents a far more intricate landscape. In this work, we explore the geometry of one-weight sum-rank metric codes, focusing on three distinct classes. First, we introduce and classify \emph{constant rank-list} sum-rank codes, where each nonzero codeword has the same tuple of ranks, extending results from the rank-metric setting. Next, we investigate the more general \emph{constant rank-profile} codes, where, up to reordering, each nonzero codeword has the same tuple of ranks. Although a complete classification remains elusive, we present the first examples and partial structural results for this class. Finally, we consider one-weight codes that are also MSRD (Maximum Sum-Rank Distance) codes. For dimension two, constructions arise from partitions of scattered linear sets on projective lines. For dimension three, we connect their existence to that of special 22-fold blocking sets in the projective plane, leading to new bounds and nonexistence results over certain fields.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2508.04262,
  title  = {One-weight codes in the sum-rank metric},
  author = {Usman Mushrraf and Ferdinando Zullo},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2508.04262},
  year   = {2025}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T04:36:59.073Z