Number Theory

Zeros of linear combinations of L-functions near the critical line

Speaker: 
Youness Lamzouri
Date: 
Wed, Jan 11, 2023
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Conference: 
L-Functions in Analytic Number Theory Seminar
Abstract: 

In this talk, I will present a recent joint work with Yoonbok Lee, where we investigate the number of zeros of linear combinations of $L$-functions in the vicinity of the critical line. More precisely, we let $L_1, \dots, L_J$ be distinct primitive $L$-functions belonging to a large class (which conjecturally contains all $L$-functions arising from automorphic representations on $\text{GL}(n)$), and $b_1, \dots, b_J$ be real numbers. Our main result is an asymptotic formula for the number of zeros of $F(\sigma+it)=\sum_{j\leq J} b_j L_j(\sigma+it)$ in the region $\sigma\geq 1/2+1/G(T)$ and $t\in [T, 2T]$, uniformly in the range $\log \log T \leq G(T)\leq (\log T)^{\nu}$, where $\nu\asymp 1/J$. This establishes a general form of a conjecture of Hejhal in this range. The strategy of the proof relies on comparing the distribution of $F(\sigma+it)$ to that of an associated probabilistic random model.

This event is part of the PIMS CRG Group on L-Functions in Analytic Number Theory. More details can be found on the webpage here: https://sites.google.com/view/crgl-functions/crg-weekly-seminar?authuser=0

Class: 

A walk on Legendre paths

Speaker: 
Youness Lamzouri
Date: 
Mon, Jan 9, 2023
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Conference: 
ULethbridge Distinguished Speaker Series
Abstract: 

The Legendre symbol is one of the most basic, mysterious and extensively studied objects in number theory. It is a multiplicative function that encodes information about whether an integer is a square modulo an odd prime p. The Legendre symbol was introduced by Adrien-Marie Legendre in 1798, and has since found countless applications in various areas of mathematics as well as in other fields including cryptography. In this talk, we shall explore what we call "Legendre paths", which encode information about the values of the Legendre symbol. The Legendre path modulo p is defined as the polygonal path in the plane formed by joining the partial sums of the Legendre symbol modulo p. In particular, we will attempt to answer the following questions as we vary over the primes p: how are these paths distributed? how do their maximums behave? and what proportion of the path is above the real axis? Among our results, we prove that these paths converge in law, in the space of continuous functions, to a certain random Fourier series constructed using Rademakher random multiplicative functions. Part of this work is joint with Ayesha Hussain.

Class: 

Negative moments of the Riemann zeta-function

Speaker: 
Alexandra Florea
Date: 
Mon, Dec 5, 2022
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Zoom
Online
Conference: 
Lethbridge Number Theory and Combinatorics Seminar
Abstract: 

Alexandra Florea (University of California Irvine, USA)

I will talk about recent work towards a conjecture of Gonek regarding negative shifted moments of the Riemann zeta-function. I will explain how to obtain asymptotic formulas when the shift in the Riemann zeta function is big enough, and how we can obtain non-trivial upper bounds for smaller shifts. I will also discuss some applications to the question of obtaining cancellation of averages of the Mobius function. Joint work with H. Bui.

Class: 

The value distribution of the Hurwitz zeta function with an irrational shift

Speaker: 
Anurag Sahay
Date: 
Thu, Dec 1, 2022
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Zoom
Online
Conference: 
L-Functions in Analytic Number Theory Seminar
Abstract: 

The Hurwitz zeta function $\zeta(s, \alpha)$ is a shifted integer analogue of the Riemann zeta function which shares many of its properties, but is not an ”L-function” under any reasonable definition of the word. We will first review the basics of the value distribution of the Riemann zeta function in the critical strip (moments, Bohr–Jessen theory...) and then contrast it with the value distribution of the Hurwitz zeta function.

Our focus will be on shift parameters $\alpha / \in \mathbb{Q}$, i.e., algebraic irrational or transcendental. We will present a new result (joint with Winston Heap) on moments of these objects on the critical line.

Class: 

On the Quality of the ABC-Solutions

Speaker: 
Solaleh Bolvardizadeh
Date: 
Mon, Nov 21, 2022
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Zoom
Online
Conference: 
Lethbridge Number Theory and Combinatorics Seminar
Abstract: 

Solaleh Bolvardizadeh (University of Lethbridge, Canada)

The quality of the triplet $(a,b,c)$, where $\gcd(a,b,c) = 1$, satisfying $a + b = c$ is defined as
$$
q(a,b,c) = \frac{\max\{\log |a|, \log |b|, \log |c|\}}{\log \mathrm{rad}(|abc|)},
$$
where $\mathrm{rad}(|abc|)$ is the product of distinct prime factors of $|abc|$. We call such a triplet an $ABC$-solution. The $ABC$-conjecture states that given $\epsilon > 0$ the number of the $ABC$-solutions $(a,b,c)$ with $q(a,b,c) \geq 1 + \epsilon$ is finite.

In the first part of this talk, under the $ABC$-conjecture, we explore the quality of certain families of the $ABC$-solutions formed by terms in Lucas and associated Lucas sequences. We also introduce, unconditionally, a new family of $ABC$-solutions that has quality $> 1$.

In the remaining of the talk, we prove a conjecture of Erd\"os on the solutions of the Brocard-Ramanujan equation
$$
n! + 1 = m^2
$$
by assuming an explicit version of the $ABC$-conjecture proposed by Baker.

Class: 

Torsion points and concurrent lines on Del Pezzo surfaces of degree one

Speaker: 
Julie Desjardins
Date: 
Thu, Nov 17, 2022
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Online
Zoom
Conference: 
Lethbridge Number Theory and Combinatorics Seminar
Abstract: 

Julie Desjardins (University of Toronto, Canada)

The blow up of the anticanonical base point on X, a del Pezzo surface of degree 1, gives rise to a rational elliptic surface E with only irreducible fibers. The sections of minimal height of E are in correspondence with the 240 exceptional curves on X.

A natural question arises when studying the configuration of those curves: If a point of X is contained in “many” exceptional curves, is it torsion on its fiber on E?

In 2005, Kuwata proved for del Pezzo surfaces of degree 2 (where there is 56 exceptional curves) that if “many” equals 4 or more, then yes. In a joint paper with Rosa Winter, we prove that for del Pezzo surfaces of degree 1, if “many” equals 9 or more, then yes. Moreover, we find counterexamples where a torsion point lies at the intersection of 7 exceptional curves.

Class: 

Sums of Fibonacci numbers close to a power of 2

Speaker: 
Elchin Hasanalizade
Date: 
Mon, Oct 17, 2022
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Zoom
Online
Conference: 
Lethbridge Number Theory and Combinatorics Seminar
Abstract: 

Elchin Hasanalizade (University of Lethbridge, Canada)

The Fibonacci sequence \(F(n) : (n\geq 0) is the binary recurrence sequence defined by

$$
F(0) = F(1) = 1 \qquad \mbox{and} \\
F(n+2) = F(n+1) + F(n) \qquad \forall n \geq 0.
$$

There is a broad literature on the Diophantine equations involving the Fibonacci numbers. In this talk, we will study the Diophantine inequality

$$
\left\lvert F(n) + F(m) − 2a\right\rvert < 2a/2
$$

in positive integers n,m and a with $n \geq m$. The main tools used are lower bounds for linear forms in logarithms due to Matveev and Dujella-Petho version of the Baker-Davenport reduction method in Diophantine approximation.

Class: 

Quadratic Twists of Modular L-functions

Speaker: 
Xiannan Li
Date: 
Thu, Nov 3, 2022
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Online
Zoom
Conference: 
L-Functions in Analytic Number Theory Seminar
Abstract: 

The behavior of quadratic twists of modular L-functions at the critical point is related both to coefficients of half integer weight modular forms and data on elliptic curves. Here we describe a proof of an asymptotic for the second moment of this family of L-functions, previously available conditionally on the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis by the work of Soundararajan and Young. Our proof depends on deriving
an optimal large sieve type bound.

This event is part of the PIMS CRG Group on L-Functions in Analytic Number Theory. More details can be found on the webpage here: https://sites.google.com/view/crgl-functions/crg-weekly-seminar

Class: 

Moments and Periods for GL(3)

Speaker: 
Chung-Hang (Kevin) Kwan
Date: 
Thu, Oct 20, 2022
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Zoom
Online
Abstract: 

In the past century, the studies of moments of L-functions have been important in number theory and are well-motivated by a variety of arithmetic applications. This talk will begin with two problems in elementary number theory, followed by a survey of techniques in the past and the present. We will slowly move towards the perspectives of period integrals which will be used to illustrate the interesting structures behind moments. In particular, we shall focus on the “Motohashi phenomena”.

Class: 

Extreme Values of the Riemann Zeta Function and Dirichlet L-functions at the Critical Points of the Zeta Function

Speaker: 
Shashank Chorge
Date: 
Thu, Oct 13, 2022
Location: 
PIMS, University of Lethbridge
Zoom
Abstract: 

We compute extreme values of the Riemann Zeta function at the critical points of the zeta function in the critical strip. i.e. the points where $\zeta'(s) = 0$ and $\mathfrak{R}s< 1.$. We show that the values taken by the zeta function at these points are very similar to the extreme values taken without any restrictions. We will show geometric significance of such points.

We also compute extreme values of Dirichlet L-functions at the critical points of the zeta function, to the right of $\mathfrak{R}s=1$. It shows statistical independence of L-functions and zet function in a certain way as these values are very similar to the values taken by L-functions without any restriction.

Class: 

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