On the Barban-Davenport-Halberstam theorem: XIII (Q4498537)

Let \(\theta(x;a,k)=\sum \log p\) where the sum is over primes~\(p\) with \(p \leq x\) and \(p \equiv a,\bmod k\), and write \[ \theta(x;a,k) = {x \over \phi(k)}+E(x;a,k),\quad G(x,k) = \mathop{\sum_{1 \leq a \leq k}}_{(a,k)=1} E^2(x;a,k),\quad S(x,Q)=\sum_{k \leq Q}G(x,k). \] In the preceding paper of the current series [in Györy et al.\ (eds.), Number Theory in Progress, Vol.~2, 893-910 (1999; Zbl 0943.11042)] the author showed that \(G(x,k)>cx\log x\) for each \(c<\smash{1\over 2}\) provided \(x>x_0(c)\) and \(x\exp\bigl(-A_1\sqrt{ \log x} \bigr) <k \leq x\), with a similar result valid when \(k>x^{2/3+\varepsilon}\) on the Generalised Riemann Hypothesis. Attention is now given to the averaged quantity \(S(x,Q)\). It is shown that \(S(x,Q)>cQx\log Q\) if \(c<1\), \(x>x_0(c)\) and \(x\exp\bigl(-{\smash\log^{3/5-\varepsilon}x} \bigr)<Q \leq x\), improving the result of \textit{H.~Q.~Liu} [Manuscr. Math. 87, No.~2, 159-166 (1995; Zbl 0834.11036)] in which \(c<{1\over 4}\), valid in the same range. Also, a similar lower bound on~\(S\) holds when \(Q=x^\alpha\), \(c<2- 1/\alpha\) and \({1\over 2}<\alpha \leq 1\) provided it is assumed that the Riemann zeta function has no zeros with real part exceeding \(3\over 4\). The methods used include a further development of a technique used in the previous paper and by \textit{J.~B.~Friedlander} and \textit{D.~A.~Goldston} [Q. J. Math., Oxf. II. Ser. 47, 313-336 (1996; Zbl 0859.11054)] involving replacing the von~Mangoldt function~\(\Lambda\) by a suitable expression of the type \(\sum_{d \mid n}\lambda_d\). For the conditional result, with its greatly reduced dependence on hypotheses of Riemann's type, use is made of the maximal large sieve of \textit{H.~L.~Montgomery} [J. Fac. Sci., Univ. Tokyo, Sect. I A 28, 805-812 (1981; Zbl 0498.10024)].