Generalized bent functions and their properties (Q1071735)

After defining ''generalized bent functions'', the authors study the nature of the Fourier coefficients of a bent function, and a proof for the non- existence of bent functions over \(J^ m_ q\), m odd, is given for many values of q of the form \(q=2(mod 4)\). For every value of q and m (other than m odd and \(q=2(mod 4))\), constructions for bent functions over \(J^ m_ q\) are provided. Some properties of generalized bent functions are also examined, and it is shown that the generalized versions share many properties, such as the connection with Hadamard matrices, in common with their binary counterparts.