A Vandermonde code construction

We use a Vandermonde matrix to construct a code of length mn from m codes of length n. A distance estimate for the construction is given. When the starting codes are suitable constacyclic codes, the constructed code is cyclic and from this we obtain new cyclic codes. The results generalize those of Hughes (see ibid., vol.46, p.674-80, 2000) on the u+/spl upsi/|u-/spl upsi/ construction.