On mean values of some arithmetic functions in number fields (Q5894429)

Let \(K\) be an algebraic number field and \(a\) an integral ideal of \(K\) with norm \(N(a)\). Let\(\tau^K_k(n) = \sum_{N(a_1\dots a_k)=n}1\). When \(K\) is a quadratic field or a cyclotomic field, \textit{E. Deza} and \textit{L. Varukhina} [Discrete Math. 308, No. 21, 4892--4899 (2008; Zbl 1223.11114)] studied \[ \sum_{n\leq x} \tau^K_{k_l} (n)\dots \tau^K_{k_l}(n), \tag{1} \] and obtained a leading term of the form \(xP_m(\log x)\) where \(P_m\) is a polynomial of degree \(m-1\). In the present paper the author establishes a more general result thereby correcting the value of \(m\) claimed in the above result. Let \(K/\mathbb Q\) be a Galois extension of degree \(d\), and for integers \(k_1,\dots, k_l\geq 2\) write \(m = k_1\dots k_ld^{l-1}\). Then it is shown that the leading term in the asymptotic formula for the sum (1) is \(xP_m(\log x)\) where \(P_m\) has degree \(m-1\). The error term derived is weaker than that in the paper cited above, but the author indicates at the end how to strenghten the error term for an Abelian extension. The proof of the main theorem is analytic and uses properties of the Dedekind zeta-function.