No label defined (Q4388337)

For \(k\geq 2,\) let \(d_k(n)\) denote the \(k\)-fold iterated divisor function and \[ A_k(x)=\#\{n\leq x: d_k(n)=d_k(n+1)\}. \] \textit{D. R. Heath-Brown} [Mathematika 31, 141-149 (1984; Zbl 0529.10040)] showed that for sufficiently large \(x,\) \[ A_2(x)\gg x(\log x)^{-7}. \] \textit{A. Hildebrand} [Pac. J. Math. 129, 307-319 (1987; Zbl 0591.10035)] improved the estimate to \(\gg x(\log \log x)^{-3}.\) In the present paper, the author gives the following estimate (without proof): for sufficient large \(x,\) \[ A_k(x)\gg x(\log \log x)^{-3}, \] where the constant \(\gg \) does not depend on \(k.\) The reviewer would like to point out that the detailed proof has appeared in a paper with the same title [Chin. Ann. Math., Ser. B 20, 473-478 (1999; Zbl 1016.11039)].