Some problems concerning the convolutions of number-theoretical functions (Q2545533)

Let \(h_f(n)\) denote the convolution of the arithmetical function \(f\), i.e. \[ h_f(n)=\sum_{\nu=1}^{n-1} f(\nu) f(n - \nu), \] where throughout \(f\) is taken to assume the values \(\pm 1\) only \((f\in A)\). The authors investigate conditions under which \[ h_f(n)=o(n) \text{ as }n\to\infty \tag{*} \] when \(f\) is a multiplicative function \((f\in M)\) and an absolutely multiplicative function \((f\in M^*)\). Define \(P_f\) to be the set of primes for which \(f(p) = -1\) and write \(C(f) = \sum_{p\in P_f} \frac{1}{p}\). The authors show that if \(f\in M\) and \(C(f)\) is convergent then (*) cannot hold and observe that \(C(f)=\infty\) is not sufficient by considering the simple function \[ f(p)=\begin{cases} 1 &p=2 \\ (-1)^\frac12 (p-1) &p>2\end{cases} . \] However, the authors conjecture that for any \(f\in M\), if there is no natural number \(K\) such that \(f(m) = f(n)\) whenever \((n,K) =1\) and \(m\equiv n\pmod K\), then (*) holds if and only if \(C(f) = \infty\). For each \(f\in A\), define \(\alpha(f) = \underline{\lim}_{n\to\infty} h_f(n)/n\), \(\beta(f) = \overline{\lim}_{n\to\infty} h_f(n)/n\). The function \(f\in M\) defined by \(f(n) =1\) for \(n\) odd and \(-1\) for \(n\) even satisfies \(C(f) < \infty\), \(\alpha(f)=1\) simultaneously. The authors prove that for every \(f\in M^*\) with \(C(f) < \infty\) the inequality \(\alpha(f)\geq -1/3\) holds and the unique extremal function is \(f(n) = (-1)^\gamma\) where \(n=2^\gamma m\), \(m\) odd. This follows from a representation result, that \(h_f(n) =\delta_f(n)\cdot n+o(n)\), where \(\delta_f(n)\) is a product of simple functions of primes in \(P_f\). Using Parseval's formula and Cauchy's inequality the authors show that if \(f\in A\) then \(\underline{\lim}_{n\to\infty} | h_f(n)|/\sqrt n\geq 1\), and they conjecture that \(\overline{\lim}_{n\to\infty} h_f(n)/n=\infty\).