Lower bounds for the variance of sequences in arithmetic progressions: primes and divisor functions

DOI10.1093/QMATH/HAW005zbMATH Open1426.11103arXiv1602.01984OpenAlexW2963597598MaRDI QIDQ2987015FDOQ2987015

Authors: Adam J. Harper, Kannan Soundararajan 

Publication date: 17 May 2017

Published in: The Quarterly Journal of Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: We develop a general method for lower bounding the variance of sequences in arithmetic progressions mod $q$, summed over all $qleqQ$, building on previous work of Liu, Perelli, Hooley, and others. The proofs lower bound the variance by the minor arc contribution in the circle method, which we lower bound by comparing with suitable auxiliary exponential sums that are easier to understand. As an application, we prove a lower bound of $(1-epsilon)QNlog(Q^2/N)$ for the variance of the von Mangoldt function $(Lambda(n){)}_{n=1}^N$, on the range $sqrtN(logN{)}^{C}leqQleqN$. Previously such a result was only available assuming the Riemann Hypothesis. We also prove a lower bound $g{g}_{k,delta}QN(logN{)}^{k^2-1}$ for the variance of the divisor functions $d_k(n)$, valid on the range $N^{1/2+delta}leqQleqN$, for any natural number $kgeq2$.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1602.01984

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zbMATH Keywords

arithmetic progressionsRamanujan summajor arcsminor arcs

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Asymptotic results on arithmetic functions (11N37) Arithmetic progressions (11B25) Sequences (mod (m)) (11B50) Applications of the Hardy-Littlewood method (11P55)

Cited In (10)

• The variance of divisor sums in arithmetic progressions
• The variance of the number of sums of two squares in \(\mathbb{F}_q[T]\) in short intervals
• Variance of the $k$-fold divisor function in arithmetic progressions for individual modulus
• Generalized divisor functions in arithmetic progressions. I
• Disproving Hooley's conjecture
• Moments of moments of primes in arithmetic progressions
• Variance of sums in arithmetic progressions of divisor functions associated with higher degree L-functions in 𝔽q[t]
• A lower bound for the variance of generalized divisor functions in arithmetic progressions
• Correlations of multiplicative functions in function fields
• Generalized divisor functions in arithmetic progressions: II

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