A remark on Kitaoka formal power series attached to local densities (Q1360906)

Let \(A,B\) be non-degenerate symmetric matrices of degree \(m\) and \(n\) \((m\geq n)\) with entries in the ring \(\mathbb{Z}_p\) of \(p\)-adic integers. Let \(\alpha_p (p^tB,A)\) be the local density representing \(p^tB\) by \(A\). With it \textit{Y. Kitaoka} [Nagoya Math. J. 103, 149-160 (1986; Zbl 0603.10022)] attached the formal power series \[ Q(B,A;x) =\sum^\infty_{t=0} \alpha_p (p^tB,A) x^t. \] By results of Kitaoka, Böcherer, Sato and Hironaka we know that \(Q (B, A;x)\) is a rational function of \(x\). We further have some information on the denominator of \(Q(B,A;x)\). The author gives the following refinement of these results in the non-dyadic case: Let \(r\) be the Witt index of \(A\) and set \(r_0= \min (r,n-1)\). Then the denominator of \(Q (B,A;x)\) divides \[ (1-x)^{n_0} \prod^{r_0}_{i=0} (1-p^{(n-i) (n+i+1-m)} x^2), \] where \(n_0=1\) if \(r\geq n\) and \(n_0=0\) if \(r<n\). If \(m\) is even and \(A\) is unimodular such that \(\varepsilon (A)= ({(-1)^{m/2} \text{det} 2A \over p}) =1\), then the denominator of \(Q(B,A;x)\) divides \[ (1-x)^{n_0} \prod^{r_0}_{i=0} (1-p^{(n-i) (n+i+1-m)} x). \] From these results we get some information on the asymptotic behaviour of \(\alpha_p (p^tB,A)\). The proof of the main result is based on a new induction formula for local densities. It reduces the proof to the case that all entries of \(pA^{-1}\) are in \(\mathbb{Z}_p\). Let \(A\) be unimodular. Then the information on the denominator also follows from a more general approach which includes the dyadic case [\textit{H. Katsurada} and \textit{M. Hisasue}, A recursion formula for local densities, J. Number Theory 64, No. 2, 183-210 (1997; Zbl 0872.11021)].