A new \(k\)th derivative estimate for exponential sums via Vinogradov's mean value (Q2362394)

For \(t\in\mathbb{R}\) we let \(e(t)=e^{2\pi it}\). Based on the very recent optimal bounds for the Vinogradov mean value integral due to \textit{T. D. Wooley} [Adv. Math. 294, 532--561 (2016; Zbl 1365.11097)] and to \textit{J. Bourgain} et al. [Ann. Math., Ser. 2, 184 (2), 633--682 (2016; Zbl 1408.11083)] the author gives a new \(k\)th derivative estimate for exponential sums \(\sum_{n\leq N}e(f(n))\), asserting that \[ \sum_{n\leq N}e(f(n))\ll_{A,k,\varepsilon}N^{1+\varepsilon}\left(\lambda_k^{1/k(k-1)}+N^{-1/k(k-1)}+N^{-2/k(k-1)}\lambda_k^{-2/k^2(k-1)}\right), \] where \(\varepsilon>0\), \(k\geq 3\) is an integer, \(f:[0,N]\to\mathbb{R}\) has continuous derivatives of order up to \(k\) on \((0,N)\), and satisfies the \(k\)th derivative property \(0<\lambda_k\leq f^{(k)}(x)\leq A\lambda_k\) for \(x\in(0,N)\). Also, the author proves that for any integer \(k\geq 3\) and any real \(\varepsilon>0\) there is an exponent pair \((p,q)\) given by \[ p=\frac{2}{(k-1)^2(k+2)},\qquad q=1-\frac{3k-2}{k(k-1)(k+2)}+\varepsilon. \] The author provides a result with much weaker conditions, and applies it to prove that for any fixed \(\varepsilon>0\) the estimate \[ \zeta(\sigma+it)\ll_{\varepsilon}t^{(8\sqrt{15}/63)(1-\sigma)^{3/2}+\varepsilon} \] holds uniformly for \(t\geq 1\) and \(1/2\leq\sigma\leq 1\). Moreover, the estimate \[ \zeta(\sigma+it)\ll_{\varepsilon}t^{(1-\sigma)^{3/2}/2+\varepsilon} \] holds uniformly for \(t\geq 1\) and \(0\leq\sigma\leq 1\). The author considers some corollaries of the above bounds concerning the zero-density theorem of Montgomery, moments of the Riemann zeta-function, and generalized divisor problem.