Discrete fractional Radon transforms and quadratic forms (Q662418)

The author considers analogues of fractional Radon transforms involving integration over paraboloids defined by positive defined quadratic forms. Let \(Q_1\), \(Q_2\) be positive defined quadratic forms in \(k\) variables with integer coefficients, and define for any (compactly supported) function \(f:\mathbb{Z}^{k+1}\to\mathbb{C}\) the operator \[ J_{Q_1,Q_2,\lambda} f(n, t)= \sum_{m\in\mathbb{Z}^k\setminus\{0\}} {f(n- m,t- Q_1(m))\over Q_2(m)^{k\lambda/2}}, \] where \(n\in\mathbb{Z}^k\), \(t\in\mathbb{Z}\) and \(0<\lambda<1\). The author proves sharp results for this class of discrete operators, providing necessary and sufficient conditions for them to extend to bounded operators from \(\ell^p\) to \(\ell^q\).. The method involves an intricate spectral decomposition according to major and minor arcs, motivated by ideas from the circle method of Hardy and Littlewood. Techniques from harmonic analysis, in particular Fourier transform methods and oscillatory integrals, as well as number theoretic structure of quadratic forms, exponential sums, and theta functions, play key roles in the proof.