Designs in finite metric spaces: a probabilistic approach

Abstract: A finite metric space is called here distance degree regular if its distance degree sequence is the same for every vertex. A notion of designs in such spaces is introduced that generalizes that of designs in $Q$-polynomial distance-regular graphs. An approximation of their cumulative distribution function, based on the notion of Christoffel function in approximation theory is given. As an application we derive limit laws on the weight distributions of binary orthogonal arrays of strength going to infinity. An analogous result for combinatorial designs of strength going to infinity is given.