Dense sumsets of Sidon sequences (Q2080225)

Let \(k \ge 2\) be an integer. A set \(A\) of positive integers is an asymptotic basis of order \(k\) if every large enough positive integer can be represented as a sum of \(k\) terms from \(A\). A set \(A\) of positive integers is a Sidon set if all the two-term sums formed by the elements of \(A\) are distinct. In this paper, the authors prove the existence of a Sidon set \(A\) with positive lower density of the three fold sumset \(A+A+A\) by using probabilistic methods. Let \(A\) be an infinite set of positive integers and let \(R_{h,A}(n)\) denote the number of solutions of the equation \(a_1+\dots+a_h = n\), where \(a_1, \dots, a_h \in A\) and \(a_1 \le \dots \le a_h\). Set \(A(n) = \displaystyle \sum\limits_{\substack{a \in A \\ a \le n}} 1\). A set of positive integers \(A\) is called a \(B_h[g]\) set if for every positive integer \(n\), \(R_{h,A}(n) \le g\). Sidon sets are the \(B_2[1]\) sets and if there exists \(n_0\) such that \(R_{k,A}(n) > 0\) for \(n > n_0\), then \(A\) is an asymptotic basis of order \(k\). For sets \(A, B\) of positive integers, let \(R_{A+B}(n) = |\{(a,b) \in A \times B; a + b = n\}|\). \textit{P. Erdős} et al. [Discrete Math. 136, No. 1--3, 75--99 (1994; Zbl 0818.11009); J. Number Theory 47, No. 3, 329--347 (1994; Zbl 0811.11014)] proposed the following question: Problem 1. Does there exist a Sidon set which is an asymptotic basis of order \(3\)? The following weaker results can be found in the literature. Theorem 1. ([\textit{J. Cilleruelo}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 111, No. 5, 1206--1230 (2015; Zbl 1390.11026)]) There exists a \(B_2[2]\) set which is an asymptotic basis of order \(3\). Theorem 2. ([\textit{J. Cilleruelo}, Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 111, No. 5, 1206--1230 (2015; Zbl 1390.11026); \textit{S. Z. Kiss} et al., Funct. Approximatio, Comment. Math. 51, No. 2, 393--413 (2014; Zbl 1353.11016)]) There exists a Sidon set which is an asymptotic basis of order \(4\). Define the lower asymptotic density of a set \(A\) of natural numbers by \(\underline{d}(A) = \liminf \frac{A(n)}{n}\), and the upper asymptotic density by \(\overline{d}(A) = \limsup \frac{A(n)}{n}\). In this paper, the authors prove the existence of a Sidon set such that the lower asymptotic density of its three fold sumset is positive. Namely, it is shown the following theorem. Theorem 4. There exist a Sidon set \(A\) with \(\underline{d}(A+A+A) > 0.064\). In [\textit{H. Halberstam} and \textit{K. F. Roth}, Sequences. (Reprint). New York-Heidelberg-Berlin: Springer-Verlag (1983; Zbl 0498.10001)], it is proved that \(\underline{d}(A+A) = 0\) and \(\dfrac 18 \le \displaystyle \sup\limits_{\substack{A \subset \mathbb N \\ A \text{ is Sidon}}}\overline{d}(A+A) \le \dfrac 12\). The authors propose the following problems. Problem 2. Do there exist constants \(\frac 18 < c_1 < c_2 < \frac 12\) such that \(c_1 \le \displaystyle \sup\limits_{\substack{A \subset \mathbb N \\ A \text{ is Sidon}}} \overline{d}(A+A) \le c_2\)? Problem 3. Does there exist a Sidon set \(A\) such that \(\overline{d}(A+A+A) = 1\)?