Additive representation in thin sequences. VII: Restricted moments of the number of representations (Q1002476)

Let \(R_{s,k}(n)\) denote the number of representations of \(n\) as the sum of \(s\) positive integral \(k\)th powers, and let \(\phi(t)\) be a polynomial having the positive leading coefficient, and suppose that whenever \(t\) is an integer, then \(\phi(t)\) is also an integer. The main subject of the paper is asymptotic formulae for the sum \(\sum_{n\leq x}R_{s,k}(\phi(n))^h\), with a positive real number \(h\). Actually, the asymptotic formulae are established here for the following cases: (i) \(k=3\), \(s=6\), \(\phi\) is quadratic, and \(0<h\leq2\), (ii) \(k=3\), \(s=7\), \(\phi\) is quadratic, and \(0<h\leq 4\), (iii) \(k=3\), \(s=7\), \(\phi\) is cubic, and \(0<h\leq2\), (iv) \(k\geq3\), \(\phi\) is quadratic, \(h\geq2\), and \(s\geq(1-1/(2h))k^2(\log k+\log\log k+O(1))\). It is moreover pointed out that on writing \(r(n)\) for the number of representations of \(n\) as the sum of two primes, one may obtain an asymptotic formula for \(\sum_{n\leq x}r(2\phi(n))^h\) with any given positive number \(h\) and polynomial \(\phi(t)\) of any degree. For corresponding results to the complete moment \(\sum_{n\leq x}R_{s,3}(n)^h\) in the case of cubes, see recent work of the first and the third authors [\textit{J. Brüdern} and \textit{T. D. Wooley}, ``The asymptotic formulae in Waring's problem for cubes'', to appear in J. Reine Angew. Math. 647, 1--23 (2010; Zbl 1220.11126)]. For Part III, see Acta Arith. 100, No. 3, 267--289 (2001; Zbl 0995.11055) and Part VI, Glasg. Math. J. 44, No. 3, 419--434 (2002; Zbl 1046.11067).