Factorization in the extended Selberg class (Q1769849)

Let \(\mathcal S\) denote the Selberg class of Dirichlet series with functional equation and Euler product. It is known that every function in \(\mathcal S\) can be factored into primitive functions [see \textit{J. B. Conrey} and \textit{A. Ghosh}, Duke Math. J. 72, No. 3, 673--693 (1993; Zbl 0796.11037)]. Let \(\mathcal S^\sharp \) denote the extended Selberg class of Dirichlet series with functional equation, but not necessarily with Euler product [see the authors, Invent. Math. 150, No. 3, 485--516 (2002; Zbl 1034.11051) for the full definition]. The function \(F\in\mathcal S^\sharp \) is called primitive if any factorization \(F=F_1F_2\) with \(F_1, F_2\in\mathcal S^\sharp\), implies \(F_1\) is constant or \(F_2\) is constant. The authors prove that every function in the extended Selberg class can be factored into primitive functions. The basic tools in the proof are the notation of conductor of \(F\in\mathcal S^\sharp \) and the characterization of functions of degree 0 in \(\mathcal S^\sharp \).