On perfect nonlinear functions (Q5318253)

The concept of a perfect nonlinear function (PNF) from \(\mathbb Z_q^n\) to \(\mathbb Z_q^m\), where \(\mathbb Z_q=\mathbb Z/q\mathbb Z\), was introduced by \textit{K. Nyberg} [Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. 547, 378--386 (1991; Zbl 0766.94012)] to construct S-boxes that are immune to differential attacks. The authors prove interesting results on the existence and nonexistence of PNF's by establishing an explicit one-to-one correspondence between PNF's and appropriate relative difference sets. Via this correspondence one can construct PNF's from known relative difference sets. By using the correspondence, Galois rings and bent functions, the authors then prove their main result: There exists a perfect nonlinear function from \(\mathbb Z_4^n\) to \(\mathbb Z_4^m\) if and only if \(m\leq\lfloor n/2\rfloor\).