Twins of \(k\)-free numbers and their exponential sum (Q1591622)

The distribution of \(k\)-free twins (viz. consecutive \(k\)-free numbers) is examined. Let \(k\geq 2\) and \(\mu_k\) be the characteristic function for the \(k\)-free numbers. Write \(S(\alpha)= \sum_{n\leq x}\mu_k(n) \mu_k(n+1) e(\alpha n)\). It is proved that \[ \int_0^1|S(\alpha)|d\alpha\ll x^{1/(k+1)+ \varepsilon}, \] for any \(\varepsilon> 0\). On the other hand, if \(1\leq Q\leq \frac 12\sqrt{x}\) and \({\mathfrak m}(Q)\) denotes the minor arcs \[ [Q^{-1}, 1+Q^{-1}] \setminus \bigcup_{q\leq Q} \bigcup_{\substack{ a=1\\ (a,q)=1}} ^q \biggl( \frac{a-Qx^{-1}}{q}, \frac{a+Qx^{-1}}{q} \biggr), \] then the authors also show that \[ \int_{{\mathfrak m}(Q)} |S(\alpha)|^2 d\alpha\ll x^{1+\varepsilon} Q^{1/k-1}+ Q^{3-2/k} x^{2/k-1+\varepsilon}+ x^{4/(k+1)-1+\varepsilon} Q^2. \] This is proved by first obtaining an asymptotic formula for the same integral over the major arcs. This part follows an argument in the earlier paper [\textit{J. Brüdern, A. Granville, A. Perelli, R. C. Vaughan} and \textit{T. D. Wooley}, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A 356, 739-761 (1998; Zbl 0922.11071)] in which \(S(\alpha)\) is approximated on the major arcs (in mean square) by \(q^{-1}G(q,a) \sum_{n\leq x} e((\alpha-aq^{-1})n)\) where \(G(q,a)\) is a Gaussian type sum. As an application, it is also shown that \[ \#\{(a,b): a+b=n,\;a\text{ is twin \(k\)-free and \(b\) is twin \(\ell\)-free}\}= {\mathfrak S}_{k,\ell}(n) \rho_k \rho_\ell n+O(n^{9/10+\varepsilon}). \]