On a result of Ramanujan on theta functions (Q1335266): Difference between revisions

Let \[ F(q) = \sum_{r = - \lceil (n-1)/2 \rceil}^{\lfloor (n-1)/2 \rfloor} \left. \left( \sum_ m x^{m + r/n} q^{n(m + r/n)^ 2} \right)^ n \right/ \sum_ mx^ m q^{m^ 2}. \] In his ``Lost Notebook,'' Ramanujan stated identities for \(F\) when \(n = 2,3,4,5\) or 7. The author verifies Ramanujan's assertion that \(F(q)\) is independent of \(x\) and then proves that if \(n = p\), a prime, then \[ F(q) = \sum_{x \in A_{p-1}^*} q^{x \cdot x}, \] where \(A_{p-1}^*\) is the dual of the root lattice \(A_{p-1} = \{{\mathbf x} \in \mathbb{Z}^ p \mid \sum x_ i = 0\}\). From this, he is able to prove Ramanujan's identities.