Some new results on the conjecture on exceptional APN functions and absolutely irreducible polynomials: the Gold case (Q2397504)

This paper provides new results on a conjecture on exceptional almost perfect nonlinear (APN) functions. A (polynomial) function \(f: \mathbb F_{2^n}\rightarrow \mathbb F_{2^n} \) is an APN function if \(\forall a, b\in \mathbb F_{2^n},\, a\neq 0\), the equation \(f(x + a) - f(x) = b\)\, has at most 2 solutions. An APN function is called exceptional if it is APN on infinitely many extensions of \(\mathbb F_{2^n}\). \textit{Y. Aubry} et al. [Contemp. Math. 518, 23--31 (2010; Zbl 1206.94025)] conjectured that the only exceptional APN functions are the Gold monomials \(f(x)= x^{2^k+1}\)\, and the Kasami-Welch monomials \(f(x)=x^{2^{2k}-2^k+1}\). They also proved that a polynomial function \(f(x)\)\, of odd degree is not exceptional APN function when \(\deg(f)\)\, is not a Gold number \(2^k+1\)\, or a Kasami-Welch number \(2^{2k}-2^k+1\). Section 1 of the present paper points out the relationships of APN functions with cyclic error-correcting codes and formulates the conjecture of Aubry, McGuire and Rodier. Section 2 recalls previous results of the authors concerning Gold polynomials \(f(x)= x^{2^k+1}+h(x)\),\, providing families of polynomials which are not exceptional APN. The conjecture is true for polynomials \(f(x)= x^{2^k+1}+h(x)\)\, if \(d=\deg(h)\) is odd and \(d\)\, is not a Gold number or is a Gold number with \(d=2^l+1\)\, and \((l,k)=1\) (see Theorem 6). Section 3 deals with the case \((l,k)\neq 1\) (Theorems 7 and 8). Finally Section 4 discusses the case \(d\)\, even (Theorem 9).