Constructions of Pairs of Orthogonal Latin Cubes

Abstract

A pair of orthogonal latin cubes of order $q$ is equivalent to an MDS code with distance $3$ or to an ${\rm OA}_1(3,5,q)$ orthogonal array. We construct pairs of orthogonal latin cubes for a sequence of previously unknown orders $q_i=16(18i-1)+4$ and $q'_i=16(18i+5)+4$. The minimal new obtained parameters of orthogonal arrays are ${\rm OA}_1(3,5,84)$. Keywords: latin square, latin cube, MOLS, MDS code, block design, Steiner system, orthogonal array