Kasami APN-function conjecture

For every pair of positive integers n,kn,k with gcd(k,n)=1\gcd(k,n)=1, let F:F2nF2nF:\mathbb{F}_{2^n}\to\mathbb{F}_{2^n} be defined by F(x)=x4k2k+1F(x)=x^{4^k-2^k+1}, and let Δ={F(b)+F(b+1)+1:bF2n}\Delta=\{F(b)+F(b+1)+1:b\in\mathbb{F}_{2^n}\}. Then, for all distinct nonzero v1,v2F2nv_1,v_2\in\mathbb{F}_{2^n}, {(x,y,z)Δ3:v1x+v2y+(v1+v2)z=0}=22n3\left|\{(x,y,z)\in\Delta^3:v_1x+v_2y+(v_1+v_2)z=0\}\right|=2^{2n-3}.

Progress summary

Partially solved

The conjecture has gained substantial partial results and computer checks, but the general question remains open.

The Kasami APN-function conjecture was posed at NSUCRYPTO in 2019. Recent work proves several boundary parameter cases and checks all admissible small dimensions, but does not settle the full conjecture.

Known results

  • Hernando and McGuire settled the monomial Kasami-Welch case within the broader exceptional-APN conjecture.
  • Aubry, McGuire, and Rodier settled the odd-degree polynomial case outside the Gold and Kasami-Welch degrees.
  • Férard, Oyono, and Rodier proved further non-exceptionality results for perturbations of Kasami-Welch functions.
  • Later work established partial absolute-irreducibility results while explicitly leaving pending cases.

August 2026 partial proof and verification

A new arXiv preprint proves the cases kmodn{1,2,n2,n1}k \bmod n\in\{1,2,n-2,n-1\}, including a complete proof for k=2k=2, and exhaustively verifies all admissible dimensions n13n\le 13. These results substantially narrow the remaining range, but the paper states that the general conjecture remains open elsewhere.

Current status (as of August 2026): The cases kmodn{1,2,n2,n1}k \bmod n\in\{1,2,n-2,n-1\} and all admissible n13n\le 13 are settled, while the remaining general parameter range is open.

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