New upper bounds for nonbinary codes based on the Terwilliger algebra and semidefinite programming

We give a new upper bound on the maximum size Aq(n,d) of a code of word length n and minimum Hamming distance at least d over the alphabet of q⩾3 letters. By block-diagonalizing the Terwilliger algebra of the nonbinary Hamming scheme, the bound can be calculated in time polynomial in n using semidefinite programming. For q=3,4,5 this gives several improved upper bounds for concrete values of n and d. This work builds upon previous results of Schrijver [A. Schrijver, New code upper bounds from the Terwilliger algebra and semidefinite programming, IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory 51 (2005) 2859–2866] on the Terwilliger algebra of the binary Hamming scheme.