Expanded keyword columnar + Myszkowski sweep (293 thematic keywords)

In plain English: Expanded keyword columnar + Myszkowski sweep (293 thematic keywords) — using a method based on rearranging the order of letters. Every possible combination was tested (15.0 million configurations) — none produced a valid solution. Best match: 18/24 known letters (statistically expected at this key length, not a real signal). This approach is ruled out within the tested scope.

NOISE: 18/24 at period 13 (expected random ~13.5 at p=13; false positive from underdetermination) Tier 2

How to read this record

Verdict – NOISE (no better than random guessing), INTERESTING (slightly above random, almost certainly coincidence), SIGNAL (statistically unusual, warrants investigation), or FULL MATCH (all 24 known letters correct).
Confidence Tier – Tier 1 = mathematical proof (permanent). Tier 2 = every possibility tested. Tier 3 = partially tested. Tier 4 = not yet tested.
Configs Tested – How many different key/parameter combinations were tried.
Best Score – How many of the 24 known plaintext letters the best attempt matched (out of 24).
Keystream Consistency (Bean) – Whether the key values at different positions are mathematically consistent with each other.
Scope Limitations – What this elimination does not rule out.

Configs Tested: 15,000,000
Best Score: 18 / 24 known letters matched · worth investigating (random guess would score: 0.0)
Keystream Consistency (Bean): FAIL
Checks whether the key values at different positions are mathematically consistent with each other.
Confidence: Tier 2: Exhaustive search under stated assumptions. Does not eliminate multi-layer variants.
Date Tested: 2026-02-18
Script: scripts/transposition/columnar/e_rerun_03_columnar_expanded.py

Scope Limitations

This elimination does not rule out:

Single-layer only. Only tests 293 thematic keywords. Does not eliminate arbitrary keyword columnar.

Assumptions

Direct positional correspondence
Periodic substitution (Vigenere/Beaufort/VB) at periods tested

Reproduce

PYTHONPATH=src python3 -u scripts/transposition/columnar/e_rerun_03_columnar_expanded.py

Requires the kryptos repo, Python 3.11+, PYTHONPATH=src.

Found an error? Report on GitHub