A complete characterization of \(\mathcal{D}_0 \cap\mathcal{M}^\#\) and a general framework for specifying bent functions in \(\mathcal{C}\) outside \(\mathcal{M}^\#\) (Q2161421)

Bent functions are functions \(f\colon \{0,1\}^n \to \{-1,1\}\) in which the absolute value of all Fourier coefficients is \(2^{n/2}\). There is no classification of all bent functions, but many classes of bent functions are known. Among these are the Maiorana-McFarland class \(\mathcal{M}\) and its completion \(\mathcal{M}^\sharp\), Carlet's classes \(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{D},\mathcal{D}_0\), and the partial spread class \(\mathcal{PS}_{ap}\). The main result of this paper, Theorem 7, gives a criterion for when a \(\mathcal{D}_0\) class function belongs to \(\mathcal{M}^\sharp\), following up on the work of \textit{C. Carlet} introducing the classes \(\mathcal{C},\mathcal{D}\) [Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. 765, 77--101 (1994; Zbl 0951.94542)]. Other results include a new construction of bent functions of \(\mathcal{C}\) class which are outside of \(\mathcal{M}^\sharp\), and a proof that most functions in \(\mathcal{PS}_{ap}\) do not belong to \(\mathcal{C}\) class. The latter is shown using rank: the authors show that \(\mathcal{C}\) class functions on \(2n\) variables have rank \(O(2^n)\), whereas most functions in \(\mathcal{PS}_{ap}\) have rank \(\omega(2^n)\) [\textit{G. Weng} et al., Finite Fields Appl. 13, No. 4, 1096--1116 (2007; Zbl 1168.05011)].