Representations of integers as sums of an even number of squares (Q2575651)

The generating function for \(r_s(n)\), the number of representations of \(n\) as a sum of \(s\) integral squares, is the \(s\)th power of the standard theta function \(\theta^s\), a modular form of weight \(s/2\) and level 4. For \(s\geq 4\), \(\theta^s\) can be expressed as the sum of a modular form in the space generated by Eisenstein series of weight \(s/4\) and level 4 and a corresponding cusp form. \textit{H. H. Chan} and \textit{K. S. Chua} [Ramanujan J. 7, No. 1--3, 79--89 (2003; Zbl 1031.11022)] conjectured that if \(s\equiv 0\pmod 8\) and \(s\geq 16\) then \(\theta^s\) is a unique linear combination of \((s/8)-1\) products of two specific Eisenstein series of level 4. This paper proves that if \(s\equiv 0\pmod 8\) and \(s\geq 16\), then \(\theta^s\) up to the addition of an Eisenstein series can be expressed as a rational linear combination of \((s/4)-3\) modular forms of weight \(s/2\) and level 4, each of which is a product of two specific Eisenstein series of level 4, of type slightly different from that suggested by Chan and Chua. Although the coefficients in these linear combinations for \(s>16\) are not uniquely determined, for each given \(s\) they all can be universally computed by solving a certain system of linear equations. The cases \(s=16\), 24, 32, 40, and 48 are calculated explicitly.