The characterization of \(n^{ir}\) as a multiplicative function (Q1125595)

Let \(M\) denote the class of complex-valued completely multiplicative arithmetic functions \(f\) with \(| f(n)| =1\) \((n=1,2,\dots)\). Let \(\varepsilon_f\) be the set of all those \(z\in \mathbb{C}\) for which there exists an infinite sequence \(n_j\to\infty\) such that \(f(n_j+1)\overline{f(n_j)}\to z\) \((j\to \infty)\). The authors prove the following theorem: If \(f\in M,\varepsilon_f\) is a finite set with \(\#(\varepsilon_f)=k\leq 3\), then \(\varepsilon_f=\{\omega\mid\omega^k=1\}\) and \(f(n)=n^{i\tau}F(n)\) \((\tau\in \mathbb{R})\), where \(F^k(n)=1\) \((n\in \mathbb{N})\). In the case \(k=1\) this result was proved by \textit{E. Wirsing, Y. Tang} and \textit{P. Shao} [J. Number Theory 56, 391-395 (1996; Zbl 0845.11030)].