Mathematical methods in solutions of the problems from the Third International Students' Olympiad in Cryptography

The mathematical problems and their solutions of the Third International Students' Olympiad in Cryptography NSUCRYPTO'2016 are presented. We consider mathematical problems related to the construction of algebraic immune vectorial Boolean functions and big Fermat numbers, problems about secrete sharing schemes and pseudorandom binary sequences, biometric cryptosystems and the blockchain technology, etc. Two open problems in mathematical cryptography are also discussed and a solution for one of them proposed by a participant during the Olympiad is described. It was the first time in the Olympiad history

Metrical properties of the set of bent functions in view of duality

In the paper, we give a review of metrical properties of the entire set of bent functions and its significant subclasses of self-dual and anti-self-dual bent functions. We present results for iterative construction of bent functions in n + 2 variables based on the concatenation of four bent functions and consider related open problem proposed by one of the authors. Criterion of self-duality of such functions is discussed. It is explored that the pair of sets of bent functions and affine functions as well as a pair of sets of self-dual and anti-self-dual bent functions in n > 4 variables is a pair of mutually maximally distant sets that implies metrical duality. Groups of automorphisms of the sets of bent functions and (anti-)self-dual bent functions are discussed. The solution to the problem of preserving bentness and the Hamming distance between bent function and its dual within automorphisms of the set of all Boolean functions in n variables is considered

Cryptographic properties of a simple S-box construction based on a Boolean function and a permutation

We propose a simple method of constructing S-boxes using Boolean functions and permutations. Let n be an arbitrary permutation on n elements, f be a Boolean function in n variables. Define a vectorial Boolean function Fn : F^ F^ as Fn(x) = = (f (x), f (n(x)), f (n2(x)),..., f (nn-1(x))). We study cryptographic properties of Fn such as high nonlinearity, balancedness, low differential 5-uniformity in dependence on properties of f and n for small n

Relativistic Model of Detonation Transition from Neutron to Strange Matter

We study the conversion of neutron matter into strange matter as a detonation wave. The detonation is assumed to originate from a central region in a spherically symmetric background of neutrons with a varying radial density distribution. We present self-similar solutions for the propagation of detonation in static and collapsing backgrounds of neutron matter. The solutions are obtained in the framework of general relativistic hydrodynamics, and are relevant for the possible transition of neutron into strange stars. Conditions for the formation of either bare or crusted strange stars are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to IJMP

UV graviton scattering and positivity bounds from IR dispersion relations

Scattering amplitudes mediated by graviton exchange display IR singularities in the forward limit. This obstructs standard application of positivity bounds based on twice subtracted dispersion relations. Such divergences can be cancelled only if the UV limit of the scattering amplitude behaves in a specific way, which implies a very non-trivial connection between the UV and IR behaviors of the amplitude. We show that this relation can be expressed in terms of an integral transform, obtaining analytic results when $t \log{s}\rightarrow 0$. Carefully applying this limit to dispersion relations, we find that infinite arc integrals, which are usually taken to vanish, can give a non-trivial contribution in the presence of gravity, unlike in the case of finite negative $t$. This implies that gravitational positivity bounds cannot be trusted unless the size of this contribution is estimated in some way, which implies assumptions on the UV completion of gravitational interactions. We discuss the relevance of these findings in the particular case of QED coupled to gravity.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure

On the number of unsuitable boolean functions in constructions of filter and combining models of stream ciphers

It is well known that every stream cipher is based on a good pseudorandom generator. For cryptographic purposes, we are interested in generation of pseudorandom sequences of the maximal possible period. A feedback register is one of the most known cryptographic primitives that is used in construction of stream generators. We analyze periodic properties of pseudorandom sequences produced by filter and combiner generators equipped with nonlinear Boolean functions. We determine which nonlinear functions in these schemes lead to pseudorandom sequences of not maximal possible period. We call such functions unsuitable and count the exact number of them for an arbitrary n

Post-inflationary GW production in generic higher (infinite) derivative gravity

Gravity can be embedded into a renormalizable theory by means of adding quadratic in curvature terms. However, this at first leads to the presence of the Weyl ghost. It is possible to get rid of this ghost if the locality assumption is weakened and the propagator of the graviton is represented by an entire function of the d'Alembertian operator without new poles and zeros. Models of this type admit a cosmological solution describing the $R^2$, or Starobinsky, inflation. We study graviton production after inflation in this model and show that it is negligible despite the presence of the higher derivative operators which could potentially cause instabilities.Comment: We dedicate this paper to the memory of Valery Rubako

Monitoring-based analysis of agriculture in Iraq

The paper deals with change in area and structure of Iraq agricultural lands. It revealed the main reasons for the change: crisis (war, sanctions, etc.); economic (swamp and lake drainage, melioration, etc.); weather condition. Land-use intensification as a reason for reduction of agricultural land areas was not proved. The area of cultivated lands proved to correlate significantly with the level of precipitation, wheat productivity -with the average temperature in Iraq