Cancellation in algebraic twisted sums on \(\operatorname{GL}_m\) (Q2121265)

Let \(\mathcal{K}(n)\) be a (non-exceptional) isotypic trace function associated to some sheaf \(\mathcal{F}\) modulo \(q\), \(q\) being assumed to be a prime in the paper. Let \(a(n)\) be an arithmetic function satisfying the conditions below. The paper is concerned with nontrivial upper bound for the sum \[ \sum_{n\le X}a(n)\mathcal{K}(n). \tag{1} \] The authors are concerned with the range of possibilities that give rise to nontrivial bounds compared to \(q\) (\(X\gg q^{\frac{1}{2}+\varepsilon}\)). They state ``we do not need to know specific deep properties of trace functions; it is quite enough to use the facts which are summarized in [\textit{Fouvry} et al., Duke Math. J. 163, No. 9, 1683--1736 (2014; Zbl 1318.11103); Ann. Inst. Fourier 67, No. 1, 423--449 (2017; Zbl 1392.11060)]. Thus, we shall not recall the exact definitions.'' They separated the role of \(a\) and \(\mathcal{K}\), the treatment of \(\mathcal{K}\)-part being made by Lemma 2.2 which follows from Lemma 2.1 due to \textit{M. Korolev} and \textit{I. Shparlinski} [Pac. J. Math. 304, No. 2, 505--522 (2020; Zbl 1469.11267)] by orthogonality of additive characters. Lemma 2.2 gives the estimate \[ \sum_{n=1}^{X}\mathcal{K}(an)\overline{\mathcal{K}(bn)}\ll Xq^{-\frac{1}{2}}+q^{\frac{1}{2}}\log q \] valid save for an exceptional set. The arithmetic function controls the process. It is to satisfy the \(2\)-norm estimate \[ \sum_{n\le X}{a(n)|^2}\ll X(\log X)^{\gamma-1}{\left( \frac{\log\log q}{\log q} \right)}^\gamma, \tag{2} \] and the sieve property \[ \sum_{\substack{n\le X \\ (n,P)=1}}|a(n)|\ll_\varepsilon X(\log X)^{\gamma-1}{\left( \frac{\log\log q}{\log q} \right)}^\gamma, \tag{3} \] for some \(\gamma\ge 0\), where \(P\) is the product of all primes in \([Y,Z)]\) and where \[ Y= (\log q)^{c+4}, \quad Z= q^{\varepsilon+3}. \tag{4} \] Under the above conditions, Theorem 1.1 asserts \[ \sum_{n\le X}a(n)\mathcal{K}(n)\ll X(\log X)^{\gamma-1}{\left( \frac{\log\log q}{\log q} \right)}^\gamma+\frac{X}{\log q}{\left( \frac{\log X}{\log q} \right)}^\gamma. \] This reduces the problem to the search for the arithmetic functions satisfying the above estimates. \S 4 gives a concise statement of the theory of automorphic \(L\)-functions. It is shown that the coefficients \(\lambda_\pi(n)\) satisfy the conditions and \(\lambda_\pi(n)\) can be taken as \(a(n)\) in Theorem 1.1. There are several other cases with related coefficients studied (and also the case multiplied by the Möbius function). In each case with ingenious methods, similar results are obtained. The Sato-Tate conjecture (now a theorem) is needed for the proof of Theorem 1.7.