In support of \(n\)-correlation (Q2509634)

In 1996, \textit{Z. Rudnick} and \textit{P. Sarnak} showed [Duke Math. J. 81, No. 2, 269--322 (1996; Zbl 0866.11050)] that for test functions whose Fourier transform has restricted support, the \(n\)-level correlations of zeros of any fixed automorphic \(L\)-function follow those of eigenvalues of random unitary matrices from \(U(N)\), in the limit as \(N\rightarrow \infty\). There is however a substantial combinatorial step in the argument, in showing that the main term which results from the application of the Weil explicit formula agrees with the main term on the random matrix theory side. A similar combinatorial problem arose in the family of quadratic Dirichlet \(L\)-functions in comparing \textit{P. Gao}'s results [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2014, No. 6, 1699--1728 (2014; Zbl 1331.11067)] with random matrix theory, and was only recently solved by a clever detour to hyperelliptic curves over finite fields [\textit{A. Entin} et al., Geom. Funct. Anal. 23, No. 4, 1230--1261 (2013; Zbl 1321.11095)]. The goal of the paper under review is to give an alternative expression for the \(n\)-level correlations of eigenvalues of matrices in \(U(N)\) when the Fourier transform of the test functions have restricted support, i.e., in the situation of [Zbl 0866.11050]. As a corollary, the authors obtain a direct proof of the agreement between \(n\)-level correlations of zeros of \(\zeta(s)\) and those of random unitary matrices, without going through the complicated combinatorial arguments of [Zbl 0866.11050]. The alternative form of the \(n\)-level correlations comes from an application of the \(L\)-functions ratios conjecture, which in the context of eigenvalues of random matrices of \(U(N)\) is a theorem of the authors [Commun. Number Theory Phys. 2, No. 3, 477--536 (2008; Zbl 1169.11035)].