Normal bases and their dual-bases over finite fields (Q2508607)

A basis for the finite field \(\mathbb F_{q^n}\) over \(\mathbb F_q\) is normal if it has the form \(N=\{ \alpha^{q^i}: 0\leq i < n\}\). The multiplication table of \(N\) is the matrix \(T\) representing (with respect to \(N\)) multiplication by \(\alpha\). The number of non-zero entries in \(T\) is at least \(2n-1\); when jun.it is exactly \(2n-1\) then \(N\) is called optimal. \textit{S. Gao} and \textit{H. W. Lenstra jun.} [Des. Codes Cryptography 2, No. 4, 315--323 (1992; Zbl 0770.11055)] determined all optimal normal bases, dividing them into types. Here the properties of the basis dual to \(N\) are studied. Specifically, the authors show (1) \(N\) is equivalent to its dual iff \(T\) is symmetric; (2) \(N\) is self-dual iff \(T\) is symmetric and \(\text{tr}(\alpha^2)=1\); (3) Optimal \(N\) is self-dual iff \(N\) is type-I with \(q=n=2\) or \(N\) is type-II.