On the random Chowla conjecture

Arithmetic functions in probabilistic number theory (11K65) Asymptotic results on arithmetic functions (11N37) Distribution functions associated with additive and positive multiplicative functions (11N60) Central limit and other weak theorems (60F05)

Abstract: We show that for a Steinhaus random multiplicative function

f : m a t h b b N o m a t h b b D

and any polynomial

P (x) i n m a t h b b Z [x]

of

e x t d e g P g e 2

which is not of the form

w (x + c)^{d}

for some

w i n m a t h b b Z

,

c i n m a t h b b Q

, we have [frac{1}{sqrt{x}}sum_{nle x} f(P(n)) xrightarrow{d} mathcal{CN}(0,1),] where

m a t h c a l C N (0, 1)

is the standard complex Gaussian distribution with mean

0

and variance

1.

This confirms a conjecture of Najnudel in a strong form. We further show that there almost surely exist arbitrary large values of

x g e 1,

such that

|sum_{nle x} f(P(n))| gg_{ ext{deg} P} sqrt{x} (log log x)^{1/2},

for any polynomial

P (x) i n m a t h b b Z [x]

with

e x t d e g P g e 2,

which is not a product of linear factors (over

m a t h b b Q

). This matches the bound predicted by the law of the iterated logarithm. Both of these results are in contrast with the well-known case of linear phase

P (n) = n,

where the partial sums are known to behave in a non-Gaussian fashion and the corresponding sharp fluctuations are speculated to be

O (s q r t x (l o g l o g x)^{f r a c 14 + v a r e p s i l o n})

for any

v a r e p s i l o n > 0

.

Review text

\textit{S. Chowla} conjectured [The Riemann hypothesis and Hilbert's tenth problem. (Mathematics and its Applications. Vol. 4). London and Glasgow: Blackie \& Son Ltd (1965; Zbl 0133.30003)] that for \(\lambda\) the Liouville (or the Möbius) function, one has \[ \sum_{n\le x} \lambda(P(n)) = o(x), \] when \(P\) is a polynomial in \(\mathbb{Z}[X]\) which is not a constant time a square. The case when \(P\) is a product of linear factors with integer coefficients is nowadays a hot subject. The authors consider the sums \(\sum_{n\le x}f(P(n))\) where f is a Steinhaus multiplicative function; such a function is defined in the following way: the sequence \((f(p))_{p \;prime}\) is a sequence of independent random variables uniformly distributed on the unit circle \(\{z : |z|=1\}\) and for any \(n\) one has \(f(n) = \prod_{p^{\beta}||n} (f(p))^{\beta}\). To avoid clumsy statements they introduce the harmless condition \(f(-n)=f(n)\) and \(f(0)=0\). Theorem 1.1. Let \(f\) be a Steinhaus random multiplicative function. Then for any polynomial \(P\) in \(\mathbb{Z}[X]\) with degree \(d \ge 2\) which is not of the form \(P(x)=w(x+c)^d\) for some \(w\) in \(\mathbb{Z}\) and \(c\) in \(\mathbb{Q}\), one has, as \(N\) tends to infinity \[ \frac{1}{\sqrt{N}}\sum_{n\le N} f(P(n)) \] tends in distribution towards the standard complex Gaussian distribution with mean \(0\) and variance \(1\). By a result of \textit{A. J. Harper} [Forum Math. Pi 8, Paper No. e1, 95 p. (2020; Zbl 1472.11254)] this result is false for linear polynomials and since \(f\) is completely multiplicative, it is also false when \(f\) is a constant multiple of a power. As regards large values, the authors obtain the following result which matches Khintchine's law of iterated logarithm Cor. 1.2. Let \(f\) be a Steinhaus random multiplicative function. Then for any polynomial \(P\) in \(\mathbb{Z}[X]\) with degree \(d \ge 2\) which is not a linear factors over \(\mathbb{Q}\), there almost surely exists arbitrary large x such that \[ \left|\sum_{n \le x} f(P(n))\right| \gg_d \sqrt{x \log\log x}. \] Proofs make use of recent ideas introduced by \textit{A. J. Harper} [Forum Math. Pi 8, Paper No. e1, 95 p. (2020; Zbl 1472.11254); Int. Math. Res. Not. 2023, No. 3, 2095--2138 (2023; Zbl 1515.11076)]. The well-written paper starts with a detailed introduction which presents the context of the results and an outline of the proofs.

Recommendations

Cites work

Cited in

(14)

This page was built for publication: On the random Chowla conjecture

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q6156078)