On the series \(\sum ^{\infty}_{k=1}\binom{2k}{k}^{-1}k^{-n}\) and related sums (Q801101)

Motivated by certain series appearing in Apéry's proof of the irrationality of \(\zeta(3)\) [Astérisque 61, 11--13 (1979; Zbl 0401.10049)] the author studies sums of the form \[ s(n,x)=\sum^{\infty}_{k=1}\left( \begin{matrix} 2k\\ k\end{matrix} \right)^{-1}(2k)^{-n}x^{2k} \] and shows that \(s(n,1)\) is a \(\log \sin\) integral. The author evaluates these integrals for positive integer \(n\leq 5\) in terms of Dirichlet \(L\)-series with real characters. Connections are described with previous work of Ramanujan and \textit{D. Leshchiner} [J. Number Theory 13, 355--362 (1981; Zbl 0468.10006)].