Abstract

For any odd prime p such that pm ≡ 3 (mod 4), consider all units Λ of the finite commutative chain ring Ra = Fp m [u]⟨ua⟩= Fpm + uFpm + ⋯ + ua − 1Fpm that have the form Λ = Λ0 + uΛ1 + ⋯ + ua−1 Λa−1, where Λ0, Λ1, …, Λa−1 ∊ 𝔽pm, Λ0 ≠ 0, Λ1 ≠ 0. The class of Λ-constacyclic codes of length 4ps over ℛa is investigated. If the unit Λ is a square, each Λ-constacyclic code of length 4ps is expressed as a direct sum of a −λ-constacyclic code and a λ-constacyclic code of length 2ps. In the main case that the unit Λ is not a square, we prove that the polynomial x4 − λ0 can be decomposed as a product of two quadratic irreducible and monic coprime factors, where λps0 = Λ0. From this, the ambient ring Ra[x]⟨x4ps −Λ⟩ is proven to be a principal ideal ring, whose maximal ideals are ⟨x2 + 2ηx + 2η2⟩ and ⟨x2 − 2ηx + 2η2⟩, where λ0 = −4η4. We also give the unique self-dual Type 1 Λ-constacyclic codes of length 4ps over ℛa. Furthermore, conditions for a Type 1 Λ-constacyclic code to be self-orthogonal and dual-containing are provided.