Goppa Codes Arising from Quasihermitian Curves

Code-based cryptography is particularly relevant in contemporary research, as it offers the potential to resist attacks from future quantum computers, which could easily compromise many current cryptographic algorithms. Motivated by this critical need for quantum-resistant cryptography, this study proposes the design of robust Goppa codes utilizing the unique properties of quasihermitian curves, which provide a powerful tool for their design due to their distinct arithmetic and efficient genus computation. These curves are an active area of investigation in coding theory and cryptography, and their defining equations and genus set them apart from other algebraic curves. Our study demonstrates the construction of numerous Goppa codes whose parameters can be extended, providing enhanced flexibility for diverse cryptographic applications, including the development of secure post-quantum systems. In this study, we construct 36 different Goppa codes using two specific quasihermitian curves: Y 4 + YZ 3 + X 3 Z = 0 and Y 2 Z 3 + YZ 4 + X 5 = 0. Both curves are defined over F 2 4 , with respective genera 3 and 2. Curve C 2,5 is also maximal over F 2 4 . Furthermore, the parameters of the 36 Goppa codes can be readily extended to other curves that, as this study demonstrates, maintain the same genus and number of points.