First moment of Hecke \(L\)-functions with quartic characters at the central point (Q2304343)

Let \(c\in \mathbb{Z}[i]\) be square-free with \(c\equiv 1 \bmod{16}\). Then the quartic residue symbol \[ \chi_c=\left(\frac{\cdot}{c}\right)_4 \] can be regarded as a character on the ray class group \(h_{(c)}\). The paper under review investigates the average of the Hecke \(L\)-functions \(L(s,\chi_c)\) at the critical point \(s=1/2\). It is established that \[ \sum\limits_{\substack{c\in \mathbb{Z}[i]\\ c\equiv 1 \bmod{16}\\ c \ \mbox{\scriptsize square-free}}} L\left(\frac{1}{2},\chi_c\right)\exp\left(-\frac{N(c)}{y}\right) = Ay+O_{\varepsilon}\left(y^{13/14+\varepsilon}\right) \] for some concrete positive constant \(A\). The method starts with an application of the approximate functional equation. This leads to two sums, the first one giving the main contribution, the second one an error contribution. Bounding the second sum depends on estimates for certain smooth Gauss sums. To control error terms in the first sum, the large sieve for quartic characters is employed. The authors use a version developed by \textit{V. Blomer} et al. [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2014, No. 7, 1925--1955 (2014; Zbl 1328.11090)] which improves an earlier result by the authors [Q. J. Math. 63, No. 4, 891--917 (2012; Zbl 1282.11104)].