Non-vanishing of \(L\)-functions and applications (Q5906827)

This book, which has been awarded the Ferran Sunyer i Balaguer 1996 prize for a mathematical monograph of expository nature, deals with various arithmetically significant non-vanishing problems for \(L\)-functions, largely on the basis of the research by the authors. Special attention is paid to Dirichlet and Artin \(L\)-functions, as well as to \(L\)-functions attached to modular forms. In general terms, the leading theme is the interplay between analysis and arithmetic, a classical example being the equivalence of the prime number theorem with the non-vanishing of the Riemann zeta-function on the 1-line. Indeed, this fact with generalizations is the topic of Chapter 1, and further generalizations such as the connection of Artin \(L\)-functions with the Chebotarev Density Theorem are considered in Chapter 2. Then Chapter 3, on equidistribution and \(L\)-functions, interprets the preceding chapters from an abstract point of view. Chapter 4 surveys modular forms and related Dirichlet series with a discussion of the Sato-Tate conjecture. Chapter 5 is devoted to Dirichlet \(L\)-functions, especially to the problem of how often \(L(1/2,\chi)\) is non-zero for real characters, or for characters belonging to a given modulus. The deepest results are contained in Chapter 6 on quadratic twists of modular \(L\)-functions with connections to the Birch-Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture. Finally, Chapter 7 deals with the Selberg class of Dirichlet series and related conjectures of Selberg. It has been a welcome trend in recent mathematical literature that a book should tell a story captivating the reader similarly as good novels do, and the present one is of this kind in the opinion of the reviewer. The prerequisites required from the side of the reader are relatively standard, though the presentation is perhaps not primarily directed towards beginners. For certain, familiarity with analytic number theory is helpful the appreciation of the choice of the material. On the other hand, this book book is well-suited and stimulating for the graduate level because there is a wealth of recent results and open problems, and also a number of exercises and references after each chapter.