Two generalized constructions of relative difference sets (Q1592958)

It is well known that certain rings can be used to construct relative difference sets. The authors prove a connection between one of these constructions (using Galois rings) and generalized bent functions. The second main result shows how to construct relative difference sets from local rings with nondegenerate characters. The two results generalize constructions in \textit{Y. Q. Chen, D. K. Ray-Chaudhuri} and \textit{Q. Xiang} [Constructions of partial difference sets and relative difference sets using Galois rings. II. J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 76, No. 2, 179-196 (1996; Zbl 0859.05021)] and \textit{S. L. Ma} and \textit{B. Schmidt} [Relative \((p^a, p^b, p^a, p^{a-b})\)-difference sets: A unified exponent bound and a local ring construction. Finite Fields Appl. 6, No. 1, 1-22 (2000; Zbl 0947.05011)].