Logic Functions for Cryptography - A Tutorial

Significant research has been done on bent functions, yet researchers in switching theory have paid little attention to this important topic. The goal of this paper to provide a concise exposition. Bent functions are the most nonlinear functions among n-variable switching functions, and are useful in cryptographic applications. This paper discusses three other kinds of cyptographic properties, strict avalanche criterion, propation criterion, and correlation immunity. We discuss known properties, as well as open questions. It assumes the reader is familiar with switching circuit theory. Familiarity with Reed-Muller expansions is helpful, but not essential.