Plateaued Functions
Background and Definition
A Boolean function is said to be plateaued if its Walsh transform takes at most three distinct values, viz. and Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \pm \mu } for some positive ineger called the amplitude of .
This notion can be naturally extended to vectorial Boolean functions by applying it to each component. More precisely, if is an -function, we say that is plateaued if all its component functions Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle u\cdot F} for Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle u\neq 0} are plateaued. If all of the component functions are plateaued and have the same amplitude, we say that is plateaued with single amplitude.
The characterization by means of the derivatives below suggests the following definition: a v.B.f. is said to be strongly-plateuaed if, for every and every , the size of the set does not depend on , or, equivalently, the size of the set does not depend on .
Equivalence relations
The class of functions that are plateaued with single amplitude is CCZ-invariant.
The class of plateaued functions is only EA-invariant.
Relations to other classes of functions
All bent and semi-bent Boolean functions are plateaued.
Any vectorial AB function is plateaued with single amplitude.
Constructions of Boolean plateaued functions
Primary constructons
Generalization of the Maiorana-MacFarland Functions [1]
The Maiorana-MacFarland class of bent functions can be generalized into the class of functions Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f_{\phi ,h}} of the form
for Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle x\in \mathbb {F} _{2}^{r},y\in \mathbb {F} _{2}^{s}} , where and are any positive integers, Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle n=r+s} , Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \phi :\mathbb {F} _{2}^{s}\rightarrow \mathbb {F} _{2}^{r}} is arbitrary and Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle h:\mathbb {F} _{2}^{s}\rightarrow \mathbb {F} _{2}} is any Boolean function.
The Walsh transform of Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f_{\phi ,h}} takes the value
at Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle (a,b)} . If is injective, resp. takes each value in its image set two times, then Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle f_{\phi ,h}} is plateaued of amplitude Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle 2^{r}} , resp. Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle 2^{r+1}} .
Characterization of Plateaued Functions [2]
Characterization by the Derivatives
Using the fact that a Boolean function is plateaued if and only if the expression Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \sum _{a,b\in \mathbb {F} _{2}^{n}}(-1)^{DaDbf(x)}} does not depend on , one can derive the following characterization.
Let be an -function. Then:
- F is plateuaed if and only if, for every , the size of the set
does not depend on ;
- F is plateaued with single amplitude if and only if the size of the set depends neither on , nor on for Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle v\neq 0} .
Moreover:
- for every , the value distribution of Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle D_{a}D_{b}F(x)} equals that of Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle D_{a}F(b)+D_{a}F(x)} when Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle (a,b)} ranges over Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle (\mathbb {F} _{2}^{n})^{2}} ;
- if two plateaued functions have the same distribution, then all of their component functions have the same amplitude.
Power Functions
Let . Then, for every $v,x,\lambda \in \mathbb{F}_{2^n}</math> with Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle \lambda \neq 0} , we have
Then:
- is plateaued if and only if, for every , we have
- is plateaued with single amplitude if and only if the size above does not, in addition, depend on Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle v\neq 0} .
Functions with Unbalanced Components
Let be an -function. Then is plateuaed with all components unbalanced if and only if, for every Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle v,x\in \mathbb {F} _{2}^{n}} , we have
Moreover, is plateaued with single amplitude if and only if this value does not, in addition, depend on for Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle v\neq 0} .
Strongly-Plateaued Functions
A Boolean function is strongly-plateaued if and only if its partially-bent. A v.B.f. is strongly-plateaued if and only if all of its component functions are partially-bent. In particular, bent and quadratic Boolean and vectorial functions are strongly-plateaued.
The image set Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle {\rm {Im}}(D_{a}F)} of any derivative of a strongly-plateaued function is an affine space.
Characterization by the Auto-Correlation Functions
Recall that the autocorrelation function of a Boolean function is defined as Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle {\Delta _{f}}(a)=\sum _{x\in \mathbb {F} _{2}^{n}}(-1)^{f(x)+f(x+a)}} .
An -variable Boolean function is plateaued if and only if, for every , we have
An -function is plateaued if and only if, for every Failed to parse (Conversion error. Server ("https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_") reported: "Cannot get mml. Server problem."): {\displaystyle x\in \mathbb {F} _{2}^{n},u\in \mathbb {F} _{2}^{m}} , we have
Furthermore, is plateaued with single amplitude if and only if, for every , we have
Alternatively, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is plateuaed if and only if, for every Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x,v \in \mathbb{F}_2^n} , we have
Characterization by the Means of the Power Moments of the Walsh Transform
First Characterization
A Boolean function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f : \mathbb{F}_{2^n} \rightarrow \mathbb{F}_2} is plateuaed if and only if, for every Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 0 \ne \alpha \in \mathbb{F}_2^n} , we have
An Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (n,m)} -function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is plateuaed if and only if for every Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u \in \mathbb{F}_2^m} and Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 0 \ne \alpha \in \mathbb{F}_2^n} , we have
Furthermore, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is plateaued with single amplitude if and only if, in addition, the sum Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \sum_{w \in \mathbb{F}_2^n} W_F^4(w,u)} does not depend on Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u} for Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u \ne 0} .
Second Characterization
A Boolean function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f : \mathbb{F}_{2^n} \rightarrow \mathbb{F}_2} is plateuaed if and only if, for every Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b \in \mathbb{F}_2} , we have
An Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (n,m)} -function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is plateuaed if and only if, for every Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle b \in \mathbb{F}_2^n} and every Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u \in \mathbb{F}_m} , we have
Moreover, Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is plateaued with single amplitude if and only if the two sums above do not depend on Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u} for Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u \ne 0} .
Third Characterization
Any Boolean function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f} in Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle n} variables satisfies
with equality if and only if Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f} is plateuaed.
Any Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (n,m)} -function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} satisfies
with equality if and only if Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is plateuaed.
In addition, every Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (n,m)} -function satisfies
with equality if and only if Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is plateuaed.
Characterization of APN among Plateaued Functions
Characterization by the Derivatives
One very useful property of quadratic functions which extends to plateaued functions is that it suffices to consider the number of solutions to the differential equation Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle D_aF(x) = D_aF(0)} in order to decided the APN-ness of a given function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} . More precisely, a plateuaed Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (n,n)} function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is APN if and only if the equation
has at most two solutions for any Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 0 \ne a \in \mathbb{F}_2^n} .
Characterization by the Walsh Transform
Suppose Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is a plateaued Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (n,n)} function with Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F(0) = 0} . Then Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is APN if and only if
or, equivalently,
Any Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (n,n)}
-function satisfies the inequality
with equality if and only if Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is APN plateaued.
If we denote by Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 2^{\lambda_u}} the amplitude of the component function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle u \cdot F} of a given plateuaed function Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} , then Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F is APN if and only if <div><math>\sum_{0 \ne u \in \mathbb{F}_2^n} 2^{2 \lambda_u} \le 2^{n+1}(2^n-1).}
Functions with Unbalanced Components
Let Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} be an Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (n,n)} -plateaued function with all components unbalanced. Then
with equality if and only if Failed to parse (SVG (MathML can be enabled via browser plugin): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle F} is APN.
