Computing Zeta Functions and L-Functions Lecture 1

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Computing Zeta Functions and L-Functions Lecture 1 Computing zeta functions and L-functions Lecture 1 Andrew V. Sutherland June 24, 2019 CMI-HIMR Summer School in Computational Number Theory Zeta functions of curves and their function fields Recall that the zeta function of a nice curve X=Fq is defined by 0 1 X Nr Z (T ) := exp T r ; X @ r A r≥1 where Nr := #X(Fqr ). Equivalently, if we put K := Fq(X) then X n Y e −ce ZX (T ) = ZK (T ) := bnT = (1 − T ) ; n≥1 e≥1 where bn counts effective divisors of degree n, and ce counts prime divisors (places of K, equivalently, closed points of X) of degree e. Indeed, we have X Nr = #X(Fqr ) = ece; ejr X X X 1 X Nr log Z (T ) = − c log(1 − T e) = c T de = T r: X e e d r e≥1 e≥1 d≥1 r≥1 Key properties of the zeta function of a curve From the Weil conjectures for curves (and abelian varieties), we have LX (T ) 1. ZX (T ) = (1−T )(1−qT ) with LX 2 Z[T ] of degree 2g. g 2g g−1 2g−1 g+1 g 2. LX (T ) = q T + q a1T + ··· + qag−1T + ag T g−1 1 + a1T + ··· + ag−1T + Q2g 1=2 3. LX (T ) = i=1(1 − αiT ) with jαij = q ; r P2g r Q2g r 4. #X(Fqr ) = q + 1 − 1 αi and # Jac(X)(Fqr ) = i=1(1 − αi ). It follows that a1; : : : ; ag determine N1;:::;Ng and conversely, and that both determine #X(Fqr ) and # Jac(X)(Fqr ) for all r ≥ 1. We also have the bounds ja j ≤ 2gqi=2 (which are not tight in general). p i i p Setting all αi to q, and then to − q, yields the Hasse-Weil bounds p 2g p 2g ( q − 1) ≤ # Jac(Fq) ≤ ( q + 1) spanning an interval of width 4gqg−1=2 + O(qg−3=2). The L-function of a curve Now let X be a nice curve of genus g over a number field K. The L-function of X is defined the Euler product X −s Y −s −1 L(X; s) = L(Jac(X); s) := ann := Lp(N(p) ) : n≥1 p where p varies over the primes of K (prime ideals of OK ) and N(p) := #Fp is the cardinality of the residue field Fp := OK =p. For primes p of good reduction for X we have Lp(T ) := LXp (T ), where Xp denotes the reduction of X to the residue field Fp. In every case Lp 2 Z[T ] has degree at most 2g. Thus the an are integers and L(X; s) is an arithmetic L-function of degree 2g with analytic 1 normalization Lan(X; s + 2 ) . It can happen that X has bad reduction at p but Jac(X) does not; from the L-function perspective, these are good primes. The Selberg class with polynomial Euler factors poly P −s The Selberg class S consists of Dirichlet series L(s) = n≥1 ann : 1. L(s) has an analytic continuation that is holomorphic at s 6= 1; s Qr 2. For some γ(s) = Q i=1 Γ(λis + µi) and ", the completed L-function Λ(s) := γ(s)L(s) satisfies the functional equation Λ(s) = "Λ(1 − s¯); Pr where Q > 0, λi > 0, Re(µi) ≥ 0, j"j = 1. Define deg L := 2 i λi. 3. a1 = 1 and an = O(n ) for all > 0 (Ramanujan conjecture). Q −s −1 4. L(s) = p Lp(p ) for some Lp 2 Z[T ] with deg Lp ≤ deg L (has an Euler product). 1 The Dirichlet series Lan(s; X) := L(X; s + 2 ) satisfies (3) and (4), and conjecturally lies in Spoly; for g = 1 and K totally real this is known. Strong multiplicity one Theorem (Kaczorowski-Perelli 2001) P −s P −s poly If A(s) = n≥1 ann and B(s) = n≥1 bnn lie in S and ap = bp for all but finitely many primes p, then A(s) = B(s). Corollary poly If Lan(s; X) lies in S then it is completely determined by any choice of all but finitely many coefficients ap. poly Henceforth we assume that Lan(s; X) 2 S . s g Let ΓC(s) = 2(2π) Γ(s) and define Λ(X; s) := ΓC(s) L(X; s). Then Λ(X; s) = "N 1−sΛ(X; 2 − s): where the analytic root number " = ±1 and the analytic conductor N 2 Z≥1 are determined by the ap (let us take these as definitions). Testing the functional equation g R 1 s−1 Let G(x) be the inverse Mellin transform of ΓC(s) = 0 G(x)x dx, and define 1 X S(x) := a G(n=x); x n R 1 −s so that Λ(X; s) = 0 S(x)x dx, and for all x > 0 we have S(x) = "S(N=x): The function G(x) decays rapidly, and for sufficiently large c0 we have 1 X S(x) ≈ S (x) := a G(n=x); 0 x n n≤c0x with an explicit bound on the error jS(x) − S0(x)j. Effective strong multiplicity one Fix a finite set of small primes S (e.g. S = f2g) and an integer M that we know is a multiple of the conductor N (e.g. M = ∆(X)). There is a finite set of possibilities for " = ±1, NjM, and the Euler factors Lp 2 Z[T ] for p 2 S (the coefficients of Lp(T ) are bounded). p Suppose we can compute an for n ≤ c1 M whenever p - n for p 2 S. p We now compute δ(x) := jS0(x) − "S0(N=x)j with x = c1 N for every possible choice of ", N, and Lp(T ) for p 2 S. If all but one choice makes δ(x) larger than our explicit error bound, we know the correct choice. 1 For a suitable choice of c1 this is guaranteed to happen. One can explicitly determine a set of O(N ) candidate values of c1, one of which is guaranteed to work; in practice the first one usually works. 1Subject to our assumptions; if it does not happen then we have found an explicit counterexample to the conjectured Langlands correspondence. Conductor bounds The formula of Brumer and Kramer gives explicit bounds on the p-adic valuation of the algebraic conductor N of Jac(X): vp(N) ≤ 2g + pd + (p − 1)λp(d); 2g P i P i where d = b p−1 c and λp(d) = idip , with d = dip , 0 ≤ di < p. g p = 2 p = 3 p = 5 p = 7 p > 7 1 8 5 2 2 2 2 20 10 9 4 4 3 28 21 11 13 6 For g ≤ 2 these bounds are tight (see www.lmfdb.org for examples). For hyperelliptic curves N divides ∆(X). What about other curves? Algorithms to compute zeta functions Given X=Q of genus g, we want to compute Lp(T ) for all good p ≤ B. complexity per prime (ignoring factors of O(log log p)) algorithm g = 1 g = 2 g = 3 point enumeration p log p p2 log p p3(log p)2 group computation p1=4 log pp 3=4 log p p(log p)2 p-adic cohomology p1=2(log p)2 p1=2(log p)2 p1=2(log p)2 CRT (Schoof-Pila) (log p)5 (log p)8 (log p)14 average poly-time (log p)4 (log p)4 (log p)4 P −s 2 3 For L(X; s) = ann , we only need ap2 for p ≤ B, and ap3 for p ≤ B. For 1 < r ≤ g we r can compute all apr with p ≤ B in time O(B log B) using naive point counting. The bottom line: it all comes down to computing ap's at good primes, equivalently, computing #X(Fp) = p + 1 − ap (aka counting points). The divisor group of a curve (function field) Recall that we have a (contravariant) equivalence of categories fnice curves X=Fqg ! ffunction fields K=Fqg ; ∗ which sends X to Fq(X) and morphisms ': X ! Y to field embeddings ' : Fq(Y ) ! Fq(X) defined by f 7! f ◦ '. We have a bijection between closed points P of X (GFq -orbits of X(Fq)) and places P of K (equivalence classes of absolute values of K). The divisor group Div(X) = Div(K) is the free abelian group on closed points (places) P . Each D 2 Div(X) has the form X D = nP P: P × P For f 2 K we define div(f) := P vP (f)P , and let Princ(X) denote the subgroup fdiv(f): f 2 K×g [ f0g of principal divisors. The divisor class group P Define the homomorphism deg: Div(X) ! Z by D 7! P nP deg(P ), where deg(P ) = #P = [κ(P ): Fq]; note that Princ(X) ⊆ ker deg. Div(X) 0 We now define Pic(X) := Princ(X) , and the divisor class group Pic (X) as the kernel of the degree map Pic(X) ! Z, yielding the exact sequence 0 0 −! Pic (X) −! Pic(X) −! Z −! 0: Provided that X has a rational point we have a functorial isomorphism 0 0 2 Pic (X) ' Jac(X)(Fq), meaning Pic (XL) ' Jac(X)(L) for all L=Fq. We shall henceforth assume X(Fq) contains a rational point O. W now define the Abel-Jacobi map X ! Pic0(X) P 7! [O − P ] When X is an elliptic curve this map is an isomorphism.
Recommended publications
  • Selberg's Orthogonality Conjecture and Symmetric
    SELBERG'S ORTHOGONALITY CONJECTURE AND SYMMETRIC POWER L-FUNCTIONS PENG-JIE WONG Abstract. Let π be a cuspidal representation of GL2pAQq defined by a non-CM holomorphic newform of weight k ¥ 2. Let K{Q be a totally real Galois extension with Galois group G, and let χ be an irreducible character of G. In this article, we show that Selberg's orthogonality conjecture implies that the symmetric power L-functions Lps; Symm πq are primitive functions in the Selberg class. Moreover, assuming the automorphy for Symm π, we show that Selberg's orthogonality conjecture implies that each Lps; Symm π ˆ χq is automorphic. The key new idea is to apply the work of Barnet-Lamb, Geraghty, Harris, and Taylor on the potential automorphy of Symm π. 1. Introduction Thirty years ago, Selberg [21] introduced a class S of L-functions, called the Selberg class nowadays. The class S consists of functions F psq of a complex variable s enjoying the following properties: (Dirichlet series and Euler product). For Repsq ¡ 1, 8 a pnq 8 F psq “ F “ exp b ppkq{pks ns F n“1 p k“1 ¸ ¹ ´ ¸ ¯ k kθ 1 with aF p1q “ 1 and bF pp q “ Opp q for some θ ă 2 , where the product is over rational primes p. Moreover, both Dirichlet series and Euler product of F converge absolutely on Repsq ¡ 1. (Analytic continuation and functional equation). There is a non-negative integer mF such that ps ´ 1qmF F psq extends to an entire function of finite order. Moreover, there are numbers rF , QF ¡ 0, αF pjq ¡ 0, RepγF pjqq ¥ 0, so that rF s ΛF psq “ QF ΓpαF pjqs ` γF pjqqF psq j“1 ¹ satisfies ΛF psq “ wF ΛF p1 ´ sq for some complex number wF of absolute value 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Analytic Theory of L-Functions: Explicit Formulae, Gaps Between Zeros and Generative Computational Methods
    Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2016 Analytic theory of L-functions: explicit formulae, gaps between zeros and generative computational methods Kühn, Patrick Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-126347 Dissertation Published Version Originally published at: Kühn, Patrick. Analytic theory of L-functions: explicit formulae, gaps between zeros and generative computational methods. 2016, University of Zurich, Faculty of Science. UNIVERSITÄT ZÜRICH Analytic Theory of L-Functions: Explicit Formulae, Gaps Between Zeros and Generative Computational Methods Dissertation zur Erlangung der naturwissenschaftlichen Doktorwürde (Dr. sc. nat.) vorgelegt der Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Zürich von Patrick KÜHN von Mendrisio (TI) Promotionskomitee: Prof. Dr. Paul-Olivier DEHAYE (Vorsitz und Leitung) Prof. Dr. Ashkan NIKEGHBALI Prof. Dr. Andrew KRESCH Zürich, 2016 Declaration of Authorship I, Patrick KÜHN, declare that this thesis titled, ’Analytic Theory of L-Functions: Explicit Formulae, Gaps Between Zeros and Generative Computational Methods’ and the work presented in it are my own. I confirm that: This work was done wholly or mainly while in candidature for a research degree • at this University. Where any part of this thesis has previously been submitted for a degree or any • other qualification at this University or any other institution, this has been clearly stated. Where I have consulted the published work of others, this is always clearly at- • tributed. Where I have quoted from the work of others, the source is always given. With • the exception of such quotations, this thesis is entirely my own work.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Selberg Class of L-Functions
    ON THE SELBERG CLASS OF L-FUNCTIONS ANUP B. DIXIT Abstract. The Selberg class of L-functions, S, introduced by A. Selberg in 1989, has been extensively studied in the past few decades. In this article, we give an overview of the structure of this class followed by a survey on Selberg's conjectures and the value distribution theory of elements in S. We also discuss a larger class of L-functions containing S, namely the Lindel¨ofclass, introduced by V. K. Murty. The Lindel¨ofclass forms a ring and its value distribution theory surprisingly resembles that of the Selberg class. 1. Introduction The most basic example of an L-function is the Riemann zeta-function, which was intro- duced by B. Riemann in 1859 as a function of one complex variable. It is defined on R s 1 as ∞ 1 ( ) > ζ s : s n=1 n It can be meromorphically continued to( the) ∶= wholeQ complex plane C with a pole at s 1 with residue 1. The unique factorization of natural numbers into primes leads to another representation of ζ s on R s 1, namely the Euler product = −1 1 ( ) ( ) > ζ s 1 : s p prime p The study of zeta-function is vital to( ) understanding= M − the distribution of prime numbers. For instance, the prime number theorem is a consequence of ζ s having a simple pole at s 1 and being non-zero on the vertical line R s 1. ( ) = In pursuing the analogous study of distribution( ) = of primes in an arithmetic progression, we consider the Dirichlet L-function, ∞ χ n L s; χ ; s n=1 n ( ) for R s 1, where χ is a Dirichlet character( ) ∶= moduloQ q, defined as a group homomorphism ∗ ∗ χ Z qZ C extended to χ Z C by periodicity and setting χ n 0 if n; q 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1711.06671V1 [Math.NT] 17 Nov 2017 Function Enetnieysuid[1 Nrcn Ie.Tesuyo Au Dist Value of Study the of Times
    VALUE DISTRIBUTION OF L-FUNCTIONS ANUP B. DIXIT Abstract. In 2002, V. Kumar Murty [8] introduced a class of L-functions, namely the Lindel¨of class, which has a ring structure attached to it. In this paper, we establish some results on the value distribution of L-functions in this class. As a corollary, we also prove a uniqueness theorem in the Selberg class. 1. Introduction In 1992, Selberg [10] formulated a class of L-functions, which can be regarded as a model for L-functions originating from arithmetic objects. The value distribution of such L-functions has been extensively studied [11] in recent times. The study of value distribution is concerned with the zeroes of L-functions and more generally, with the set of pre-images L−1(c) := {s ∈ C : L(s)= c} where c is any complex number, which Selberg called the c-values of L. For any two meromorphic functions f and g, we say that they share a value c ignoring multiplicity(IM) if f −1(c) is the same as g−1(c) as sets. We further say that f and g share a value c counting multiplicity(CM) if the zeroes of f(x) − c and g(x) − c are the same with multiplicity. The famous Nevanlinna theory [9] establishes that any two meromorphic functions of finite order sharing five values IM must be the same. Moreover, if they share four values CM, then one must be a M¨obius transform of the other. The numbers four and five are the best possible for meromorphic functions.
    [Show full text]
  • Uncoveringanew L-Function Andrew R
    UncoveringaNew L-function Andrew R. Booker n March of this year, my student, Ce Bian, plane, with the exception of a simple pole at s = 1. announced the computation of some “degree Moreover, it satisfies a “functional equation”: If 1 3 transcendental L-functions” at a workshop −s=2 γ(s) = ÐR(s) := π Ð (s=2) and Λ(s) = γ(s)ζ(s) at the American Institute of Mathematics (AIM). This article aims to explain some of the then I (1) (s) = (1 − s). motivation behind the workshop and why Bian’s Λ Λ computations are striking. I begin with a brief By manipulating the ζ-function using the tools of background on L-functions and their applications; complex analysis (some of which were discovered for a more thorough introduction, see the survey in the process), one can deduce the famous Prime article by Iwaniec and Sarnak [2]. Number Theorem, that there are asymptotically x ≤ ! 1 about log x primes p x as x . L-functions and the Selberg Class Other L-functions reveal more subtle properties. There are many objects that go by the name of For instance, inserting a multiplicative character L-function, and it is difficult to pin down exactly χ : (Z=qZ)× ! C in the definition of the ζ-function, what one is. In one of his last published papers we get the so-called Dirichlet L-functions, [5], the late Fields medalist A. Selberg tried an Y 1 L(s; χ) = : axiomatic approach, basically by writing down the 1 − χ(p)p−s common properties of the known examples.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1904.03123V2 [Math.NT] 30 Oct 2019 N Any and J Uhta Nteregion the in That Such Then Hoe 1.1
    ZEROS OF THE EXTENDED SELBERG CLASS ZETA-FUNCTIONS AND OF THEIR DERIVATIVES RAMUNAS¯ GARUNKSTISˇ Abstract. Levinson and Montgomery proved that the Riemann zeta-function ζ(s) and its derivative have approximately the same number of non-real zeros left of the critical line. R. Spira showed that ζ′(1/2+ it) = 0 implies ζ(1/2+ it) = 0. Here we obtain that in small areas located to the left of the critical line and near it the functions ζ(s) and ζ′(s) have the same number of zeros. We prove our result for more general zeta-functions from the extended Selberg class S. We also consider zero trajectories of a certain family of zeta-functions from S. 1. Introduction Let s = σ + it. In this paper, T always tends to plus infinity. Speiser [17] showed that the Riemann hypothesis (RH) is equivalent to the absence of non-real zeros of the derivative of the Riemann zeta-function ζ(s) left of the critical line σ = 1/2. Later on, Levinson and Montgomery [11] obtained the quantitative version of the Speiser’s result: Theorem (Levinson-Montgomery) Let N −(T ) be the number of zeros of ζ(s) − ′ in R :0 < t < T, 0 <σ< 1/2. Let N1 (T ) be the number of zeros of ζ (s) in R. − Then N1 (T )= N(T )+ O(log T ). − Unless N (T ) > T/2 for all large T there exists a sequence Tj , Tj as j such that N −(T )= N −(T ). { } →∞ →∞ 1 j j arXiv:1904.03123v2 [math.NT] 30 Oct 2019 Here we prove the following theorem.
    [Show full text]
  • Distinct Zeros of Functions in the Selberg Class 1
    Distinct zeros of functions in the Selberg Class 1 K. Srinivas 1. Introduction. Selberg [S] defined a class of Dirichlet series that admit analytic continuation, functional equation and an Euler product. The proto- typical example of Selberg's class is the classical Riemann zeta function. In the same paper, Selberg formulated several fundamental conjectures. These conjectures have spectacular consequences ( see for example the paper by Murty [MR] and Kaczorowski and Perelli [KP] ). In this paper we study a question suggested by the properties of the Selberg class. More precisely, the Selberg class S ( see [S] ) is defined by the following axioms: P1 −s (i) ( Dirichlet series ) Every F 2 S is a Dirichlet series F (s) = n=1 a(n)n ; ( with s = σ + it) absolutely convergent for σ > 1: (ii) (Analytic continuation) There exists an integer m ≥ 0 such that (s − 1)mF (s) is an entire function of finite order . 1AMS classification 11M41 (11M26) (iii)( Functional equation ) F 2 S satisfies a functional equation of the type '(s) = w'(1 − s) where d s Y '(s) = Q Γ(λis + µi)F (s); i=1 here w is a complex number with absolute value 1, Q(> 0); λi(> 0); <µi(≥ 0) are certain contants. (iv) (Ramanujan Hypothesis ) For every > 0; a(n) = O(n): P1 −s (v) (Euler product) F 2 S satisfies log F (s) = n=1 b(n)n ; where m θ 1 b(n) = 0; unless n = p with m ≥ 1; and b(n) = O(n ) for some θ < 2 . Pd For F 2 S define deg F = 2 i=1 λi to be the degree of F .
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1506.07630V2 [Math.NT] 31 Mar 2016 Itiuino H Eo N Ihidpnec Results
    SOME REMARKS ON THE CONVERGENCE OF THE DIRICHLET SERIES OF L-FUNCTIONS AND RELATED QUESTIONS J.KACZOROWSKI and A.PERELLI Abstract. First we show that the abscissae of uniform and absolute convergence of Dirichlet series coincide in the case of L-functions from the Selberg class S. We also study the latter abscissa inside the extended Selberg class, indicating a different behavior in the two classes. Next we address two questions about majorants of functions in S, showing links with the distribution of the zeros and with independence results. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 11M41, 30B50, 40A05, 42A75 Keywords: Dirichlet series, Selberg class, almost periodic functions 1. Introduction Let ∞ a(n) F (s)= ns n=1 be a Dirichlet series which converges somewhereX in the complex plane. It is well known that there are four classical abscissae associated with F (s): the abscissa of convergence σc(F ), of uniform convergence σu(F ), of absolute convergence σa(F ) and of boundedness σb(F ). It may well be that σc(F )= −∞, in which case the other three abscissae equal −∞ as well. From the theory of Dirichlet series we know that σc(F ) ≤ σb(F )= σu(F ) ≤ σa(F ), and in general this is best possible, i.e. inequalities cannot be replaced by equalities. We refer to Maurizi-Queff´elec [15] for a modern reference for this sort of problems. Our first result is that σb(F )= σa(F ) for an important class of Dirichlet series, namely those defining the L-functions of the Selberg class S. We recall that the axiomatic class S contains, at least conjecturally, most L-functions from number theory and automorphic forms theory, arXiv:1506.07630v2 [math.NT] 31 Mar 2016 and that σb(F )= σa(F ) is known in some special cases like the Riemann or the Dedekind zeta functions.
    [Show full text]
  • LARGE VALUES of L-FUNCTIONS from the SELBERG CLASS 3 Stronger Form
    LARGE VALUES OF L-FUNCTIONS FROM THE SELBERG CLASS CHRISTOPH AISTLEITNER ANDLUKASZ PANKOWSKI´ Abstract. In the present paper we prove lower bounds for L-functions from the Selberg class, by this means improving earlier results obtained by the sec- ond author together with J¨orn Steuding. We formulate two theorems which use slightly different technical assumptions, and give two totally different proofs. The first proof uses the “resonance method”, which was introduced by Soundararajan, while the second proof uses methods from Diophantine ap- proximation which resemble those used by Montgomery. Interestingly, both methods lead to roughly the same lower bounds, which fall short of those known for the Riemann zeta function and seem to be difficult to be improved. Additionally to these results, we also prove upper bounds for L-functions in the Selberg class and present a further application of a theorem of Chen which is used in the Diophantine approximation method mentioned above. 1. Introduction. It is well known that the absolute value of the Riemann zeta function ζ(σ + it) takes arbitrarily large and arbitrarily small values when t runs through the real numbers and σ [1/2, 1) is a fixed real number. However, the growth of the Riemann zeta function∈ as a function of t (for fixed σ) cannot be too fast, since its absolute value is bounded by a power of t. More precisely, if µζ (σ) denotes the infimum over all c 0 satisfying ζ(σ + it) tc for sufficiently large t, then one can show that µ (σ≥) (1 σ)/2 for 0 σ≪ 1.
    [Show full text]
  • LINEAR INDEPENDENCE in the SELBERG CLASS by J.KACZOROWSKI, G.MOLTENI and A.PERELLI C
    LINEAR INDEPENDENCE IN THE SELBERG CLASS by J.KACZOROWSKI, G.MOLTENI and A.PERELLI C. R. Math. Acad. Sci. Soc. R. Can., 21(1):28–32, 1999 Abstract. We prove that distinct functions in the Selberg class S are linearly independent over the ring F of p-finite Dirichlet series. As a consequence, S has unique factorization if and only if primitive functions of S are algebraically independent over F. R´esum´e. Nous montrons que les fonctions dans la classe de Selberg S sont lin´eairement ind´ependantes sur l’anneau F des s´eries de Dirichlet p-finies. Comme cons´equence, S a une factorization unique si et seulement si les fonctions primitives de S sont alg´ebriquement ind´ependantes sur F. AMS 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 11 M 41 Roughly speaking, the main conjecture about the Selberg class S (see the survey paper [4] for the basic definitions, conjectures and properties of S) is that S can be essentially identified with the class of suitably normalized automorphic L-functions. Based on such conjecture, one may guess that S contains only countably many essentially different functions, although S itself is certainly not countable since it contains all shifts Fθ(s) = F (s + iθ), θ ∈ R, of any entire function F ∈ S. However, one may guess that S becomes a countable set provided shifts are not counted. This is the countability problem for S. This problem was communicated to us by Peter Sarnak, and we now understand that it was independently raised also by Ram Murty and Eduard Wirsing.
    [Show full text]
  • Selberg Conjectures and Artin L-Functions
    APPEARED IN BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY Volume 31, Number 1, July 1994, Pages 1-14 SELBERG’S CONJECTURES AND ARTIN L-FUNCTIONS M. Ram Murty 1. Introduction In its comprehensive form, an identity between an automorphic L-function and a “motivic” L-function is called a reciprocity law. The celebrated Artin reciprocity law is perhaps the fundamental example. The conjecture of Shimura-Taniyama that every elliptic curve over Q is “modular” is certainly the most intriguing reciprocity conjecture of our time. The “Himalayan peaks” that hold the secrets of these nonabelian reciprocity laws challenge humanity, and, with the visionary Langlands program, we have mapped out before us one means of ascent to those lofty peaks. The recent work of Wiles suggests that an important case (the semistable case) of the Shimura-Taniyama conjecture is on the horizon and perhaps this is another means of ascent. In either case, a long journey is predicted. To paraphrase the cartographer, it is not a journey for the faint-hearted. Indeed, there is a forest to traverse, “whose trees will not fall with a few timid blows. We have to take up the double-bitted axe and the cross-cut saw and hope that our muscles are equal to them.” At the 1989 Amalfi meeting, Selberg [S] announced a series of conjectures which looks like another approach to the summit. Alas, neither path seems the easier climb. Selberg’s conjectures concern Dirichlet series, which admit analytic contin- uations, Euler products, and functional equations. The Riemann zeta function is the simplest example of a function in the family of functions F (s) of a complex variable s satisfying the following properties: S s (i) (Dirichlet series) For Re(s) > 1, F (s)= n∞=1 an/n ,wherea1 =1,andwe will write an(F )=an for the coefficients of the Dirichlet series.
    [Show full text]
  • L-Functions of the Selberg Class S
    A CONCISE SURVEY OF THE SELBERG CLASS OF L-FUNCTIONS LI ZHENG ABSTRACT. In this survey paper, I first present some classical L-functions and its basic properties. Then I give the introduction of Selberg class of L-functions, and present some basic properties, important conjec- tures and consequences, and the relation with prime number theorem. Ever since Riemann’s revolutionary paper [1], the Riemann zeta function and its various generaliza- tions have been extensively studied by mathematicians for over a century. These functions are generally referred to as L-functions. Deep connections have been established between the properties of the L- functions and other theories (for example, prime number theory). Later in 1992, in attempt to capture the core properties of classical L-functions, Selberg gave an axiomatic characterization of what would be called general L-functions. This is paper is a concise survey for Selberg class of L-functions. 1. CLASSICAL L-FUNCTIONS In this section we will recall some common properties shared by a lot of classical L-functions. Proofs and details will be avoided; references will be provided. Also, we take the convention to write the variable s as σ Å i t. Example 1. Talking about L-functions, the first one to come to mind is of course Riemann’s ³ function, σ È which is defined, for 1, X Y ¡ ¡ ¡ ³(s) Æ n s Æ (1 ¡ p s) 1. n¸1 p It has a meromorphic continuation to the complex plane C, having a unique pole at s Æ 1. Setting ¡ ©(s) Æ ¼ s/2¡(s/2)³(s), we have the functional equation ©(s) Æ ©(1 ¡ s).
    [Show full text]