The Laplace transform of the second moment in the Gauss circle problem (Q2656315)

For \(R>0\) let \(P(R)\) denote the error term in the lattice point counting problem in the plane, i.e., \(P(R)=S(R)-\pi R\), where \(S(R)\) is the number of integer lattice points in the disk of radius \(\sqrt R\) around the origin. The Gauss bound \(P(R)= O(\sqrt R)\) is far from optimal. It is conjectured that \(P(R)= O(R^{\frac14+\varepsilon})\) for every \(\varepsilon>0\). This conjecture is supported by results stating that it holds ``on average''. For instance, \textit{A. Ivić} [Stud. Sci. Math. Hung. 32, No. 1--2, 181--205 (1996; Zbl 0855.11052)] proved that \[ \int_0^\infty p(t)^2\, e^{-t/R}\,dt= CR^{3/2}-R+O(R^{\frac23+\varepsilon}) \] holds for every \(\varepsilon>0\), where \(C\) is an explicit constant. In the present paper, this estimate is improved by showing that the exponent in the remainder term can be reduced to \(\frac12+\varepsilon\). This result is achieved by considering the Dirichlet series with coefficients \(P(n)^2\) and relating them to standard Jacobi theta series, thus proving analytic continuation to meromorphic functions on the plane.