Geometry of series terms of the Riemann Zeta Function

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the geometric properties of the series terms of the Riemann Zeta function, particularly focusing on the observed mirror symmetry in the Argand diagram representation of its terms. Participants explore the implications of this symmetry, its potential significance, and the lack of extensive research on the topic.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents an Argand diagram of the first 40,000 terms of the Riemann Zeta function, noting an approximate symmetry about a specific line and the chaotic behavior of the terms.
  • Another participant questions the motivation behind the interest in this symmetry, suggesting that the focus should be on why it garners attention rather than the lack of interest.
  • A participant expresses personal curiosity about the origins of the mirror symmetry and its emergence from chaotic behavior.
  • Discussion includes references to G. Nickel's papers, which explore the symmetry phenomenologically without providing rigorous proofs, and acknowledges that the reasons for the observed symmetry remain speculative.
  • Some researchers have proposed connections to modular symmetry, the Selberg trace formula, and random matrix theory as possible explanations for the symmetry, but these remain unproven and contentious.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the significance of the symmetry or the reasons for the lack of interest in the topic. Multiple competing views and speculative explanations are presented without resolution.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the absence of rigorous proofs regarding the symmetry property and the speculative nature of proposed explanations. There is also an acknowledgment of the limited amount of existing literature on the topic.

Swamp Thing
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This is an Argand diagram showing the first 40,000 terms of the series form of the Riemann Zeta function, for the argument ##\sigma + i t = 1/2 + 62854.13 \thinspace i##

1677033178046.png

The blue lines are the first 100 (or so) terms, and the rest of the terms are in red. The plot shows a kind of approximate symmetry about the dotted green line, in the sense that the red part mirrors the blue part on average but is much more fine-grained. The last spiral in the red part is centred around the analytically continued value of zeta.

These aspects of the RZF seem rather interesting to me, but I could find only a limited amount of discussion about it --
1. https://arxiv.org/abs/1310.6396, G. Nickel, Geometry of the Riemann Zeta Function
2. https://arxiv.org/abs/1507.07631, G. Nickel. Symmetry in Partial Sums of the Riemann Zeta Function
3. https://ojs.stanford.edu/ojs/index.php/surj/issue/download/surj-2005/47, see pages 17-26.
4. http://laacademy.org/LAS2021/posters/P24_Conor_McGibboney.pdf

I am wondering why there isn't more interest in this. Is it because it is considered a dead end as far as research level mathematics?

Secondly, are there other sources that I have missed?

Thirdly, the symmetry property is not actually proved in the above references, but only explored phenomenologically. Is there a rigorous proof somewhere?
 
Last edited:
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Swamp Thing said:
...
I am wondering why there isn't more interest in this.
...
Shouldn't the question always be the opposite, why is there interest in this? What is the motivation?
 
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Speaking only for myself -- curiosity.

It would make me happy to understand why the mirror symmetry emerges from this rather chaotic, almost Brownian behavior.
 
Last edited:
I decided to ask ChatGPT, mentioning the G. Nickel papers that I linked to in my OP.

ChatGPT:
As far as I know, the exact reason for the observed mirror symmetry in the partial sums of the Riemann zeta function has not been fully explained or proven. Nickel himself acknowledges this in his papers, stating that the symmetry is "striking" but that "its origins are not well understood".

Some researchers have proposed various explanations, such as the role of modular symmetry, the connection to the Selberg trace formula, and the connection to random matrix theory. However, these explanations are still speculative and there is no consensus on the exact reason for the observed symmetry. The phenomenon remains an active area of research in number theory and related fields.
 

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