Chebyshev estimates for Beurling generalized prime numbers. I. (Q448225)

Let \(\{p_1, p_2, \ldots\}\) be a non-decreasing sequence of real numbers \(>1\), \(\mathcal{N}=\{n_1, \ldots, \}\) the semi-group generated by the \(p_i\), where different factorizations of the same real number are to be considered different. Put \(N(x)=\sum_{n_k<x} 1\), \(\Psi(x)=\sum_{n_k<x}\Lambda(n_k)\), where \(\Lambda\) is the von Mangoldt function associated to the number system \(\mathcal{N}\). \textit{A. Beurling} [Acta Math. 68, 255--291 (1937; Zbl 0017.29604)] showed that \[ N(x)=ax+O\left(\frac{x}{\log^\gamma x}\right) \] with \(\gamma>3/2\) implies the prime number theorem \(\Psi(x)\sim x\). \textit{H. G. Diamond} [Proc. Am. Soc. 39, 503--508 (1973; Zbl 0268.10036)] showed that \(\gamma>1\) still suffices to prove Chebyshev type estimates \(c_1x<\Psi(x)<c_2x\), \(x>x_0\), and conjectured that the same holds under the weaker condition \[ \int_1^\infty\frac{|N(x)-ax|}{x^2}\,dx<\infty,\qquad a>0. \] This conjecture was refuted by \textit{J.-P. Kahane} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 48, No. 3, 611--648 (1998; Zbl 0905.11043)]. In the present work the author shows that the integral condition together with \[ N(x)=ax+o\left(\frac{x}{\log x}\right) \] indeed proves a Chebyshev estimate. For the proof the author first shows that the \(\zeta\)-function of the number system has the property that \((s-1)\zeta(s)\) is continuous and non-zero on a segment \([1-ci, 1+ci]\). Then an estimate for \(\Psi\) in a restricted version of the weak topology is given, by inserting a suitable test function the final result is obtained.