On the representation of numbers by quaternary and quinary cubic forms. I (Q2804250)

Let \(f(x_1,\ldots,x_n)\) be a non-singular cubic form with integer coefficients. This paper is concerned with the question: which integers \(N\) are represented by \(f\)? One might hope to handle this when \(n\geq 9\) using ideas from the author's work [J. Reine Angew. Math. 386, 32--98 (1988; Zbl 0641.10019)]. In the present paper one seeks a corresponding ``almost-all'' result. Of course some integers \(N\) are ruled out by local conditions, but a positive proportion of integers \(N\) are represented everywhere locally (if \(n\geq 2\)).NEWLINENEWLINEThe paper shows firstly, that if \(n\geq 5\) then ``almost-all'' integers \(N\) that are represented by \(f\) everywhere locally, are in fact representable over \(\mathbb{Z}\).NEWLINENEWLINEThe case \(n=4\) is also considered, and here a corresponding result is obtained, subject to an appropriate assumption about the Hasse-Weil \(L\)-functions of certain auxiliary cubic forms.NEWLINENEWLINEIf \(S(\alpha)\) is the usual generating function associated to \(f\) then to handle the ``almost all'' problem one wants an upper bound for NEWLINE\[NEWLINE\int_{\mathfrak{m}}|S(\alpha)|^2\,d\alpha,NEWLINE\]NEWLINE where \(\mathfrak{m}\) is the collection of minor arcs. However \(|S(\alpha)|^2\) is a generating function corresponding to the cubic form \(f(x_1,\ldots,x_n)-f(y_1,\ldots,y_n)\) in \(2n\) variables. This will also be non-singular, so that one can imagine getting a suitable saving for \(n=5\), by the method of the reviewer [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 47, 225--257 (1983; Zbl 0494.10012)]. Similarly, for \(n=4\) one can hope that the author's work [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. (3) 109, No. 1, 241--281 (2014; Zbl 1343.11044)] will give a conditional treatment. Needless to say, there are considerable technical difficulties in pushing through the details.