Diophantine approximation on planar curves: the convergence theory (Q2509017)

Let \(\psi: {\mathbb N} \rightarrow {\mathbb R}_+\) be a non-increasing function. A curve \(M \subset {\mathbb R}^2\) is said to be of Khintchine type for divergence if whenever \(\sum \psi(h)^2 = \infty\), the inequality \[ \| q x\| < \psi(q), \tag{\(\ast\)} \] is satisfied for infinitely many \(q \in {\mathbb N}\) for almost all points \(x \in M\). Here, \(\| x \|\) denotes the distance to the nearest point with integer coordinates. On the other hand, if \(\sum \psi(h)^2 < \infty\) implies that the inequality (\(\ast\)) is satisfied for at most finitely many \(q \in {\mathbb N}\) for almost all points \(x \in M\), the curve \(M\) is said to be of Khintchine type for convergence. It was shown by \textit{V. Beresnevich}, \textit{D. Dickinson} and \textit{S. Velani} [Ann. Math. (2) 166, No. 2, 367--426 (2007; Zbl 1137.11048)], that any \(C^3\) curve for which the curvature is zero only on a set of zero Lebesgue measure is of Khintchine type for divergence. In the present paper, this is complemented by a proof that such curves are also of Khintchine type for convergence. In fact, the assumption that the curve is \(C^3\) is weakened to \(C^2\) for the convergence case. Additionally, under some additional assumptions on the curve, a full zero-infinity law for the Hausdorff measure of the set of points on \(M\) satisfying (\(\ast\)) infinitely often is obtained. The case of infinite Hausdorff measure is again found in Beresnevich et al. [loc.cit.]. This is completed by the present paper. The important results of the paper complete the metrical theory for simultaneous Diophantine approximation on planar, non-degenerate, \(C^3\) curves. Additionally, the results settle (and in some cases strengthen conclusions of) conjectures in Beresnevich et al. [loc.cit.]. The bulk of the proofs consist in counting estimates on the number of rational points with the same denominator nearby planar curves. Specifically, if \(f : [\eta, \xi] \rightarrow {\mathbb R}\) is a function with continuous second derivative bounded away from zero, the authors find upper estimates on the function \[ N(Q,\delta) = \#\{(a,q) \in {\mathbb Z} \times {\mathbb N} : q \leq Q, \eta q < a \leq \xi q, \| q f(a/q) \| < \delta \}, \] under various assumptions on \(f\) and \(\delta\). These results, which are proved using exponential sums, are interesting in their own right.