On kernels and nuclei of rank metric codes

For each rank metric code \(\mathcal {C}\subseteq \mathbb {K}^{m\times n}\), we associate a translation structure, the kernel of which is shown to be invariant with respect to the equivalence on rank metric codes. When \(\mathcal {C}\) is \(\mathbb {K}\)-linear, we also propose and investigate other two invariants called its middle nucleus and right nucleus. When \(\mathbb {K}\) is a finite field \(\mathbb {F}_q\) and \(\mathcal {C}\) is a maximum rank distance code with minimum distance \(d<\min \{m,n\}\) or \(\gcd (m,n)=1\), the kernel of the associated translation structure is proved to be \(\mathbb {F}_q\). Furthermore, we also show that the middle nucleus of a linear maximum rank distance code over \(\mathbb {F}_q\) must be a finite field; its right nucleus also has to be a finite field under the condition \(\max \{d,m-d+2\} \geqslant \left\lfloor \frac{n}{2} \right\rfloor +1\). Let \(\mathcal {D}\) be the DHO-set associated with a bilinear dimensional dual hyperoval over \(\mathbb {F}_2\). The set \(\mathcal {D}\) gives rise to a linear rank metric code, and we show that its kernel and right nucleus are isomorphic to \(\mathbb {F}_2\). Also, its middle nucleus must be a finite field containing \(\mathbb {F}_q\). Moreover, we also consider the kernel and the nuclei of \(\mathcal {D}^k\) where k is a Knuth operation.