New Binomial Bent Function over the Finite Fields of Odd Characteristic

The $p$-ary function $f(x)$ mapping $\mathrm{GF}(p^{4k})$ to $\mathrm{GF}(p)$ given by $f(x)={\rm Tr}_{4k}\big(x^{p^{3k}+p^{2k}-p^k+1}+x^2\big)$ is proven to be a weakly regular bent function and the exact values of its Walsh transform coefficients are found. The proof is based on a few new results in the area of exponential sums and polynomials over finite fields that may also be interesting as independent problems.