The Shintani double zeta functions (Q2121538)

\textit{T. Shintani} [J. Fac. Sci., Univ. Tokyo, Sect. I A 22, 25--65 (1975; Zbl 0313.10041)] introduced a Dirichlet series in two complex variables \((s_1,s_2)\) convergent for \(\Re(s_i)\gg0\), and showed that the series has analytic continuation to \(\mathbb{C}^2\) and satisfies a collection of functional equations. The double Dirichlet series was obtained and analyzed through the study of a specific prehomogeneous vector space. This allowed him to obtain an asymptotic formula for an average of the class numbers of quadratic fields as the discriminant approaches infinity. The authors analyze the Shintani double zeta functions with arbitrary ramification in the general setting of adeles over an arbitrary number field, by studying the related prehomogeneous vector space. They give an explicit formula in terms of a sum of quadratic Hecke \(L\)-functions, applying Tate's thesis to do so. They present three applications: an additional functional equation, the holomorphicity of a certain Dirichlet series which occurs in the study of unipotent contributions of the geometric side of the Arthur-Selberg trace formula of the symplectic group, and an asymptotic formula for the weighted average of the central values of quadratic Dirichlet \(L\)-functions. The Shintani double zeta function is closely related to the type \(A_2\) Weyl group multiple Dirichlet series defined in [\textit{B. Brubaker} et al., Proc. Symp. Pure Math. 75, 91--114 (2006; Zbl 1112.11025)]. In an appendix, this connection is developed in detail, and connections to Taniguchi's explicit formula [\textit{T. Taniguchi}, ``Distributions of discriminants of cubic algebras'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:math/0606109}] are also explained.