Almost-periodicity of the Watson function (Q1973458): Difference between revisions

Let \(\theta > 0\) be given. Define the Watson function \(\chi_\theta\) by \[ \chi_\theta (n) = 1, \text{ if } \text{gcd}\bigl(n, [\theta \cdot n] \bigr) =1, \text{ otherwise } = 0. \] For irrational \(\theta\), \textit{G. L. Watson} [Can. J. Math. 5, 451-455 (1953; Zbl 0051.03205)] (and \textit{T. Estermann} [Can. J. Math. 5, 456-459 (1953; Zbl 0051.03301)] with another method) calculated the mean value \(M(\chi_\theta) = {6 \over{\pi^2}}.\) Approximating \(\chi_\theta\) (using the semi-norm \(\|f\|_1 = \limsup_{x\to\infty} {1\over x} \cdot \sum_{n\leq x} |f[n)|)\) by the indicator function \[ \chi_k: n \mapsto 1, \text{ if gcd}\bigl(n, [\theta \cdot n], k ! \bigr) =1, \text{ otherwise } = 0, \] the author proves \smallskip \(\qquad\chi_\theta\) is in \({\mathcal A}^1\), the space of \(\|.\|_1\)-- almost periodic arithmetic functions, and \smallskip \(\qquad M(\chi_\theta)= {6\over {\pi^2}}\), for \(\theta\) irrational, and \(\qquad M(\chi_\theta) = {1\over q}\cdot \sum_{n\leq q} {{\phi(n)}\over n}\), if \(\theta = {a\over q}\), and gcd\((a,q)=1\).