On the average numer of unitary factors of finite abelian groups. II (Q5925948)

Let \(t(G)\) denote the number of unitary factors of a finite abelian group \(G\) and \(T(x)= \sum t(G)\), where the summation is extended over all abelian groups of order not exceeding \(x\). Then \[ T(x)= c_1x(\log x+2C-1)+ c_2x+c_3\sqrt{x}+ E(x), \] where \(C\) is the Euler constant. Let \(\theta\) denote the smallest \(\alpha\) such that \[ E(x)\ll x^{\alpha+\varepsilon} \] holds. The reviewer [Acta Arith. 51, 369--379 (1988; Zbl 0633.10044)] showed that \(\theta\leq \frac{11}{29}\). A number of improvements of this result have been given in the meantime. The author now makes visible progress. He proves that \[ \theta\leq \frac{1+2k}{3+4k}, \] where \((k,\frac 12+2k)\) is an exponent pair with \(0<k< \frac{3}{20}\). The classical exponent pair \((\frac{2}{18}, \frac{13}{18})\) even gives \(\theta\leq \frac{11}{31}\). From Watt's exponent pair, one obtains further \(\theta\leq \frac{2036}{5739}\). Part I, cf. Acta Arith. 85, 293--300 (1998; Zbl 0916.11051).