On transitive differentiable modulo \(p^n\) functions (Q889989)

From the introduction: ``The generation of long period pseudorandom sequences \(x_1x_2\cdots\) over some set \(X\) is an important problem in cryptology. For this purpose the following recurrent equations are often used: \(x_{i+1} = f(x_i)\), \(i = 1, 2, \ldots ,\) where \(f: X\to X\). Therefore, we have the problem of choosing \(f\) so that it is efficiently calculated and, according to the equations above, it generates a sequence of the long period \(m\). In the best case, \(m\) is maximal and equals \(|X|\). In this paper, we consider the case where \(X = \mathbb Z_{p^n}\). The class of polynomial functions over the ring \(\mathbb Z_{p^n}\) is well known. Transitive polynomial functions over \(\mathbb Z_{p^n}\) are considered in [\textit{M. V. Larin}, Discrete Math. Appl. 12, No. 2, 127--140 (2002); translation from Diskretn. Mat. 14, No. 2, 20--32 (2002; Zbl 1054.11010)]. These functions exist and are efficiently calculated, but the set of transitive polynomial functions is a small part of transitive functions over \(\mathbb Z_{p^n}\). Thus, there is a necessity to explore some new classes of functions over \(\mathbb Z_{p^n}\). The class of differentiable functions over \(p\)-adic numbers is studied in [\textit{V. S. Anashin}, Discrete Math. Appl. 12, No. 6, 527--590 (2002); translation from Diskretn. Mat. 14, No. 4, 3--64 (2002; Zbl 1054.11041)]. For this class, a property similar to transitivity, called ergodicity, is studied and some criteria of ergodicity are created. In Section 2, the class of differentiable modulo \(p^n\) functions is introduced. The functions in this class are defined similarly to differentiable functions over \(p\)-adic numbers, but their domain and the modulo lifting are different. Also, the number of all differentiable modulo \(p^n\) functions is given. In Section 3, the number of bijective differentiable modulo \(p^n\) functions is found, a recurrent formula for calculating inverse functions is constructed and bijectivity conditions are formulated. In Section 4, the number of transitive differentiable modulo \(p^n\) functions is presented, the cyclic structure of differentiable modulo \(p^n\) functions is studied and the transitivity conditions are formulated.'' This article continues the author's previous studies (in Russian); see ``Research of differentiable modulo \(p^n\) functions''. Prikl. Diskr. Mat. Suppl. 7, 19--22 (2014; \url{http://mi.mathnet.ru/eng/pdma/y2014/i7/p19}) and ``Research of the group of bijective differentiable modulo \(p^n\) functions''. Prikl. Diskr. Mat. Suppl. 8, 27--30 (2015; \url{http://mi.mathnet.ru/eng/pdma/y2015/i8/p27}).