New estimates of the remainder in an asymptotic formula in the multidimensional Dirichlet divisor problem (Q650455)

The author proves several new results involving the general (multidimensional) Dirichlet divisor problem, which concerns the estimation of the function \[ \Delta_k(x) := \sum_{n\leq x}d_k(n) - xP_{k-1}(\log x), \] where \(d_k(n)\) is the divisor function generated by \(\zeta^k(s)\), and \(P_{k-1}(y)\) is a well-known polynomial of degree \(k-1\) in \(y\), whose coefficients depend on \(k\). Let, as usual, \(\alpha_k\) and \(\beta_k\) denote the least numbers \(a\) and \(b\) for which one has \[ \Delta_k(x) \ll x^a,\qquad \int_1^x\Delta_k^2(y)\,dy \ll x^{1+2b}, \] respectively. The results of this paper were already announced by the author [\textit{O. V. Kolpakova}, Dokl. Math. 77, No. 1, 35--37 (2008); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk, Ross. Akad. Nauk 418, No. 2, 159--161 (2008; Zbl 1221.11199)]. The main results are the new bounds for \(\alpha_k, \beta_k\) when \(k\) is large. For \(k\geq 93\) one has \[ \alpha_k \leq 1 - \left({2\over3a(k-2k_1)}\right)^{2/3}, \quad k_1 = 79.95, \leqno(1) \] and \(a\) is the constant for which \[ \zeta(\sigma + it) \ll t^{a(1-\sigma)^{2/3}}\log t, \qquad(t>1,\, 0.9 < \sigma\leq 1,\, 1\leq a \leq 20). \] The above bound sharpens the result of \textit{M. Ouellet} and the reviewer [Acta Arith. 52, No. 3, 241--253 (1989; Zbl 0619.10041)]. For \(k\geq 93, k_1 = 79.95\) one has \[ \beta_k \leq 1 - \left({b\over 3ak_3}\right)^{2/3}, \quad k=k-k_1,\, a = 4.45,\, b = 2.5. \] This is again sharper than the corresponding result of Ivić--Ouellet (op. cit). Detailed proofs are given. They are based on a delicate analysis of estimates for power moments of \(\zeta(s)\) in the critical strip and zero-density bounds. Reviewer's remark: The bound (1) is meaningful for \(k > 2k_1\), that is for \(k\geq 160\).