Planar functions, relative difference sets, and character theory (Q1125900)

Let \(H\) and \(K\) be groups of order \(n\). A mapping \(f\) from \(H\) to \(K\) is called a planar function of degree \(n\) if for each \(h\in H-\{1\}\), the induced mapping \(f_h : x \rightarrow f(hx)f(x)^{-1}\) is bijective. It is known that a planar function exists if and only if there exists an \((n,n,n,1)\)-relative difference set in \(H\times K\) relative to \(\{1\} \times K\). The author uses character theory to prove new results on the existence of planar functions from \(Z_n\) to \(Z_n\) and for the corresponding relative difference sets. In particular, the author shows that there are no planar functions from \(Z_{pq}\) to \(Z_{pq}\) where \(p\) and \(q\) are any primes and that except for 4 undecided cases, there is no planar function from \(Z_n\) to \(Z_n\) if \(n\) is not a prime and \(n\leq 50,000\).