A link between two classes of permutation polynomials (Q2302589)

In this paper, a connection is established between permutation polynomials of \(\mathbb F_{2^{2n}}\) of the form \(xh(x^{2^n-1})\), where \(h\in\mathbb F_{2^n}[x]\), and certain associated rational functions that permute the subfield \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\). It is well known that that \(xh(x^{2^n-1})\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^{2n}}\) if and only if \(g(x)=xh(x)^{2^n-1}\) permutes the multiplicative group \(\mu_{2^n+1}=\{x\in\mathbb F_{2^{2n}}:x^{2^n+1}=1\}\). Let \(\delta\in\mathbb F_{2^n}\) be such that \(\text{Tr}_{2^n/2}(\delta)=1\) and let \(\gamma\in\mathbb F_{2^{2n}}\) be a solution of \(x^2+x+\delta=0\). Then \(g(x)\) permutes \(\mu_{2^n+1}\) if and only if \(\varphi^{-1}\circ g\circ\varphi\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\), where \(\varphi(x)=(x+\gamma^{2^n})/(x+\gamma)\), \(\varphi^{-1}(x)=(\gamma^{2^n}+\gamma x)/(x+1)\). Write \[ h(x)\equiv H_1(\eta)x+H_2(\eta)\pmod{x^2+\eta x+1}, \] where \(H_1,H_2\in\mathbb F_{2^n}[x]\). Then \(h(x)=H_1(x+x^{-1})x+H_2(x+x^{-1})\) in \(\mathbb F_{2^n}(x)\). On the other hand, if \(H_1,H_2\in\mathbb F_{2^n}[x]\) are such that \(h(x)=H_1(x+x^{-1})x+H_2(x+x^{-1})\) for all \(x\in\mu_{2^n+1}\), then \((\varphi^{-1}\circ g\circ\varphi)(x)\) (\(x\in\mathbb F_{2^n}\)) can be computed explicitly: \[ (\varphi^{-1}\circ g\circ\varphi)(x)=\frac{H_1(\Delta)}{H_1(\Delta)+H_2(\Delta)}+x, \] where \(\Delta=(x^2+x+\delta)^{-1}\). This gives the main result of the paper: Assume that \(H_1,H_2\in\mathbb F_{2^n}[x]\) are such that \(h(x)=H_1(x+x^{-1})x+H_2(x+x^{-1})\) for all \(x\in\mu_{2^n+1}\). Then \(xh(x^{2^n-1})\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^{2n}}\) if and only if \(H_1(\Delta)/(H_1(\Delta)+H_2(\Delta))+x\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\). A special case of the above main result is considered. When \(H_1+H_2=1\), which is satisfied when \(h(x)=H_1(x+x^{2^n})(x+1)+1\), \(xh(x^{2^n-1})\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^{2n}}\) if and only if \(H_1(\Delta)+x\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\). This leads to the main corollary of the paper: For \(H\in\mathbb F_{2^n}[x]\), \((x^{2^n}+x)H(x^{2^n-1}+x^{2^{2n}-2^n})+x\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^{2n}}\) if and only if \(H(\Delta)+x\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\). The paper continues with a fairly detailed discussion of the permutations of \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\) in the form \(H(\Delta)+x\). When \(H\) is a monomial or a binomial, existing results are reviewed. Additional permutations of this type, where \(H\) has at most three terms, are constructed. For all such \(H\), \((x^{2^n}+x)H(x^{2^n-1}+x^{2^{2n}-2^n})+x\) permutes \(\mathbb F_{2^{2n}}\). The final part of the paper deals with permutations of \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\) of the form \((x^2+x+\delta)^{-2^k}+x\). It is known that such functions permute \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\) for \(k=0\) and \(1\). Using the Hasse-Weil bound, the authors prove that for \(k>3n/4\), such functions do not permute \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\).