On a shifted convolution sum problem (Q2235729)

It is proved here that for a holomorphic newform of prime level \( p \) and trivial nebentypus, the shifted convolution sum \(\sum_{m=1}^{\infty } \lambda_f(m)\lambda_f(m+pu)F(m/M) \) is \( \ll p^{1/2+ \varepsilon} M^{3/4}\) for \( p^{1+\varepsilon}\ll M\ll p^{3-\varepsilon} \) and \( 0<u\ll M/p \). Here \( F \) is a compactly supported smooth bump function. Establishing a bound with power saving in the error term for this sum is an open problem and is related to the Quantum Unique Ergodicity in the level aspect. The estimate proved in this paper is quite close to solving the open problem. Shifted convolution sums are usually treated using the circle method or the spectral method, and the author here employs the former.