A nonexistence criterion and new constructions for Butson Hadamard matrices

Abstract: Based on the concept of positive definite functions on finite groups, we present a new necessary condition for the existence of Butson Hadamard matrices $BH(n,q)$. We use this condition to prove some nonexistence results for a sequence of values of $(n,q)$, and also to facilitate a computer search and discover a matrix $BH(18,14)$. Furthermore, we use cyclotomic cosets to construct matrices $BH(34,10)$, $BH(62,6)$, $BH(82,6)$, and $BH(146,6)$ for the first time. These matrices have a $2$-circulant structure.