On exponential sums over primes in arithmetic progressions (Q5939532)

Let \(\Lambda(n)\) denote the von Mangoldt function, \(c\) be a non-zero integer, \(\alpha\) be a real number, and suppose that integers \(q\) and \(a\) satisfy \(|\alpha-a/q|\leq q^{-2}\), \(q\geq 1\) and \((q,a)=1\). Suppose also that an arithmetical function \(\lambda(d)\) is ``well-factorable of level \(D\)'', that is, whenever \(D=D_1D_2\) with \(D_1\), \(D_2\geq 1\), then there exist two functions \(\lambda_1\) and \(\lambda_2\) supported on the intervals \((0,D_1]\) and \((0,D_2]\), respectively, such that \(|\lambda_1|\leq 1\), \(|\lambda_2|\leq 1\) and \(\lambda=\lambda_1*\lambda_2\). Then the main theorem of this paper asserts that for \(D=x^{4/9}(\log x)^{-B}\) with any fixed positive number \(B\), one has \[ \sum_{(d,c)=1}\lambda(d) \sum_{\substack{ n\leq x\\ n\equiv c\pmod d}} \Lambda(n)e^{2\pi i\alpha n} \ll x^{7/8}(xq^{-1}+x(\log x)^{-4B}+ q)^{1/8}(\log x)^{13}, \] where the implied constant depends only on \(B\). \textit{D. I. Tolev} had proved the corresponding result with \(D=x^{1/3}(\log x)^{-B}\), without assuming the well-factorable property on \(\lambda\) [Acta Arith. 88, 67-98 (1999; Zbl 0929.11043)], with which the above theorem may be compared. This theorem is applicable to several additive questions concerning primes, such as the problem considered in the aforementioned work of Tolev, and may lead to improvements upon them.