Exceptional planar polynomials (Q256561)

If \(q\) is an odd prime power then a function \(f: \mathbb F_q \rightarrow \mathbb F_q\) is a planar function if for each non-zero \(\varepsilon\) the function \(g(x) = f(x+\varepsilon) - f(x)\) is a permutation on \(\mathbb F_q\). These functions give rise to projective planes and other combinatorial objects. If \(q\) is a power of \(2\) then a function \(f: \mathbb F_q \rightarrow \mathbb F_q\) is a planar function if for each non-zero \(\varepsilon\) the function \(g(x) = f(x+\varepsilon) - f(x) + \varepsilon x\) is a permutation of \(\mathbb F_q\). Polynomials over a finite field that induce planar functions on infinitely many extensions of the field are called exceptional planar. The authors prove the following: {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize}\item[(1)] Let \(f \in \mathbb F_{p^n}[X]\) be a monic polynomial of degree \(d\). If \(f\) is exceptional planar and \(d \equiv 1 \pmod{p}\) then \(f(X) = X^{p^k+1} + h(X)\) for some positive integer \(k\), where the degree \(e\) of \(h\) satisfies \(e<p^k+1\) and either \(p\) divides \(e\) or \(p\) divides \(e-1\). \item [(2)] Let \(f\in \mathbb F_{2^n}[X]\) be of degree \(d\). If \(f\) is exceptional planar, then either \(d \in \{1,2\}\) or \(4\) divides \(d\). \end{itemize}}