Planar functions over fields of characteristic two (Q478357)

Let \({\mathbb F}\) be a finite field. A function \(f:{\mathbb F}\to {\mathbb F}\) such that \(x\mapsto f(x+a)-f(x)\) is a bijection for all \(a\neq 0\) is called planar. Planar functions exist only between fields of odd characteristic, and they give rise to relative difference sets in elementary abelian groups and they give rise to projective planes. In the even characteristic case, no planar functions can exist, however relative difference sets in \({\mathbb Z}_4^n\) corresponding to projective planes exist. In [J. Comb. Des. 21, No. 12, 563--584 (2013; Zbl 1290.05038)], the second author showed that such relative difference sets can be represented by modified planar functions defined by the property that \(x\mapsto f(x+a)+f(x)+ax\) are permutations for all \(a\). The authors give a detailed exposition of the connection between modified planar functions and codes over \({\mathbb Z}_4\). It is a common approach in finite fields theory to search first for power mappings \(c\cdot x^t\) satisfying the modified planarity property, in which case \(t\) is called a planar exponent. The authors give a list of such exponents and conjecture that this list is complete, which seems to be difficult to prove since related problems (\(o\)-polynomials, APN or (classical) planar functions, bent functions) are still open. Following the approaches in [\textit{F. Hernando} and \textit{G. McGuire}, J. Algebra 343, No. 1, 78--92 (2011; Zbl 1244.94046)] and [\textit{D. Jedlicka}, Finite Fields Appl. 13, No. 4, 1006--1028 (2007; Zbl 1133.11068)], the authors prove the remarkable result that \(t=1\) is the only odd number which is planar for infinitely many fields. The proof uses methods from algebraic geometry. An alternative proof has been given in [\textit{P. Mueller} and \textit{M. E. Zieve}, ``Low-degree planar monomials in characteristic two'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1305.6597v1}], which also includes the extension to the case \(t\) is even: Mueller and Zieve [loc. cit.] show that only powers of \(2\) are planar exponents for infinitely many fields.