$\mathbb{Z}_p\mathbb{Z}_{p^2}$-linear codes: rank and kernel

A code $C$ is called $\Z_p\Z_{p^2}$-linear if it is the Gray image of a $\Z_p\Z_{p^2}$-additive code, where $p>2$ is prime. In this paper, the rank and the dimension of the kernel of $\Z_p\Z_{p^2}$-linear codes are studied. Two bounds of the rank of a $\Z_3\Z_{9}$-linear code and the dimension of the kernel of a $\Z_p\Z_{p^2}$-linear code are given, respectively. For each value of these bounds, we give detailed construction of the corresponding code. Finally, pairs of rank and the dimension of the kernel of $\Z_3\Z_{9}$-linear codes are also considered.