Statistics of the random variable \(L(\text{sym}^2f,1)\) (Q5953592)

The author studies the values at \(s=1\) of the symmetric square \(L\)-functions associated to the Hecke newforms of level \(N\), where the least prime factor of \(N\) is at least \(N^{\kappa }\) for \(\kappa \in (0,1]\). The asymptotic values of the positive and negative moments of these values are determined as \(N \to \infty\), together with the expectation \(\zeta^2(2)\) and the variance \(\zeta ^2(2)( \zeta (2)\zeta (3) \zeta (6)^{-1}-1)\). The argument makes use of the interpretation, due to Gelbart and Jacquet, of a symmetric square \(L\)-function as an \(L\)-function for an automorphic form for \(\text{GL}_3\).