Planar functions and perfect nonlinear monomials over finite fields

Abstract: The study of finite projective planes involves planar functions, namely, functions f : F_q --> F_q such that, for each nonzero a in F_q, the function c --> f(c+a) - f(c) is a bijection on F_q. Planar functions are also used in the construction of DES-like cryptosystems, where they are called perfect nonlinear functions. We determine all planar functions on F_q of the form c --> c^t, under the assumption that q >= (t-1)^4. This implies two conjectures of Hernando, McGuire and Monserrat. Our arguments also yield a new proof of a conjecture of Segre and Bartocci from 1971 about monomial hyperovals in finite Desarguesian projective planes.