A note on the Ramanujan \(\tau\)-function (Q2474126)

Let \(\tau(n)\) be the Ramanujan function of \(n\) whose generating function is \[ X\prod_{n\geq 1} (1-X^n)^{24}=\sum_{n\geq 1} \tau(n)X^n. \] In the paper under review, the authors investigate the value set of \(\tau(n)\) as well as the number of distinct prime factors of \(\tau(p)\) and \(\tau(p^2)\), where \(p\) ranges in the set of primes. For example, they show that the estimate \(\#\{\tau(n): n\leq x\}\geq x^{1/2+o(1)}\) holds as \(x\) tends to infinity. This improves a recent result from [\textit{I. E. Shparlinski}, Arch. Math. 85, No. 6, 508--513 (2005; Zbl 1115.11013)] where a similar bound was proved with the weaker exponent \(1/3\) instead of \(1/2\). They also show that the product \(\prod_{p\leq x}' \tau(p)\tau(p^2)\), where \('\) means that the product runs over the primes \(p\) such that \(\tau(p)\) is nonzero, has at least \((\log x)^{13/11+o(1)}\) distinct primes factors as \(x\) tends to infinity. This improves a recent result of the reviewer with \textit{I. E. Shparlinski} from [Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., Math. Sci. 116, No. 1, 1--8 (2006; Zbl 1095.11044)] where a similar estimate was proved with the weaker exponent \(1\) instead of \(13/11\), and the product also involved the values of \(\tau(p^3)\). The proofs use elementary arguments combined with well-known properties of the Ramanujan \(\tau\) function, as well as results concerning the distribution of smooth numbers.