On the representation of a natural number as a sum of three almost equal terms generated by primes (Q4515844)

For a natural number \(N\) and a positive real number \(U\), let \(T(N,U)\) be the number of representations of \(N\) in the form \(N=p_1+p_2+[\sqrt 2 p_3]\), where \(p_i\)'s are primes with \(|p_j-N/3|<U\) \((j=1, 2)\) and \(|[\sqrt 2 p_3]-N/3|<U\). Then for \(U=N^{5/8}(\log N)^c\) with a suitable positive constant \(c\), the author establishes the asymptotic formula \[ T(N,U)=(3/\sqrt 2)U^2(\log N)^{-3}+O(U^2(\log N)^{-4}). \] The proof is based on the Hardy-Littlewood method, and requires estimates for short exponential sums over primes due to \textit{Zhan Tao} [Acta Math. Sin., New Ser. 7, No. 3, 259-272 (1991; Zbl 0742.11048)], who discussed the corresponding problem on sums of three primes in the latter paper.