On lattice points in rational ellipsoids: An omega estimate for the error term (Q5954687)

Let \(B\) be a \(3\times 3\) positive definite symmetric matrix with rational entries and determinant \(D\). Then the positive definite quadratic form \(Q({\mathbf x}) = {\mathbf x}^tB{\mathbf x}\) determines rational ellipsoids in \(\mathbb R^3\). In this paper the author obtains new \(\Omega_{\pm}\)-result for the error term \[ P_B(t) := \#\bigl\{{\mathbf n} \in \mathbb Z^3 : {\mathbf n}^tB{\mathbf n} \leq \sqrt t\bigr\} - \frac{4\pi}{3\sqrt D} t^{3/2} \] for the counting function of the lattice points inside the ellipsoid \(\{{\mathbf x} \in\mathbb R^3 : {\mathbf x}^t B{\mathbf x} \leq \sqrt t\}\). The main result is that \(P_B(t) = \Omega_{\pm} ((t\log t)^{1/2}).\) This is a generalization of a result of the reviewer [Bull. Lond. Math. Soc. 32, 679-688 (2000; Zbl 1025.11033)] for the case of spheres (in which case \(B\) is the \(3\times 3\) identity matrix). The \(\Omega_+\) result is new while the \(\Omega_-\) result is not. The main idea used is the method of the reviewer which uses the second and third power moments of the convolution of \(P_B(t)\) with a suitable kernel. But the author here uses, instead, the Borel mean value of \(P_B(t).\) The reviewer and \textit{Y.-K. Lau} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 544, 25-38 (2002; Zbl 1015.11048)] have obtained similar results for the error terms of more general arithmetical functions whose associated Dirichlet series satisfy certain functional equations.