Non-zero zeta function on plane Re(z)>1

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of the Riemann zeta function, specifically addressing the assertion that it has no zeros in the half-plane where the real part of z is greater than 1. Participants explore the implications of the Euler product representation and the convergence of related series and products.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why the sum defining the logarithm of the zeta function remains finite in the region where Re(z) > 1.
  • Others suggest that the approximation of the logarithm function for small arguments makes the finiteness plausible.
  • Concerns are raised about potential winding issues in the logarithm of the zeta function, with suggestions to use a real logarithm instead.
  • Some participants argue that the Euler product alone should suffice to demonstrate the absence of zeros in the specified region, while others counter that non-zero factors do not guarantee the product itself is non-zero.
  • A participant introduces a sequence argument to illustrate that a product can converge to zero even if all individual terms are non-zero.
  • Another participant proposes a method to show that the logarithm of the zeta function is greater than negative infinity, emphasizing the need for careful treatment of convergence in the logarithmic series.
  • Further discussion includes the need to restrict sums to ensure convergence and the use of Fubini's theorem for handling infinite sums.
  • Links to external proofs are provided, indicating interest in both real and complex analysis approaches to the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the sufficiency of the Euler product for proving the absence of zeros, and there is no consensus on the best approach to demonstrate the finiteness of the relevant sums and products.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations regarding the assumptions needed for convergence and the applicability of Taylor series expansions, indicating that certain terms may not fall within the domain of convergence.

jostpuur
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Riemann says that the zeta function doesn't have zeros on the half plane [itex]\{z\in\mathbb{C}\;|\;\textrm{Re}(z)>1\}[/itex], because the sum

[tex] \log(\zeta(z)) = \log\Big(\frac{1}{\underset{p\in\mathbb{P}}{\prod}\big(1 - \frac{1}{p^z}\big)}\Big) = -\sum_{p\in\mathbb{P}}\log\big(1 - \frac{1}{p^z}\big)[/tex]

remains finite. Well, why does that sum remain finite? Doesn't look quite obvious to me.

hmhmh... what kind of set is the set

[tex] \zeta(\{z\in\mathbb{C}\;|\;\textrm{Re}(z)>1\})\subset\mathbb{C}?[/tex]

Does it fit in a domain of some logarithm, or does it wind around the origo?
 
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Well, [itex]\log(1-x) \approx -x[/itex] (for small x), so it looks plausible.
 
hmhmhm... ok

Possible winding problems can probably be avoided by using a real logarithm.

[tex] \log(|\zeta(z)|) = -\sum_{p\in\mathbb{P}}\log\big(|1 - p^{-z}|\big) = -\frac{1}{2}\sum_{p\in\mathbb{P}} \log\big(1 + p^{-2x} - 2p^{-x} \cos(y\log(p))\big)[/tex]
 
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Well doesn't the Euler product suffice to show that there are no zeroes in re z > 1?
 
*-<|:-D=<-< said:
Well doesn't the Euler product suffice to show that there are no zeroes in re z > 1?

It can happen that [itex]x_n\neq 0[/itex] for all [itex]n=1,2,3,\ldots[/itex], but still

[tex] \prod_{n=1}^{\infty} x_n = 0,[/tex]

so [itex]\zeta(z)\neq 0[/itex] is not clear at least merely because the factors [itex](1 - p^{-z})^{-1}[/itex] are non-zero.
 
Yes but [tex]\lim_{n\to\infty} x_n=1[/tex] in this case so I think it should hold.

I must however confess I have very small knowledge on the area, and might well be mistaken.

(edit: ugly tex =o )
 
If [itex]a_1,a_2,a_3,\ldots[/itex] is a sequence such that

[tex] a_n\to 0[/tex]

but

[tex] \sum_{k=1}^{n} a_k \to \pm\infty,[/tex]

then [itex]e^{a_1}, e^{a_2}, e^{a_3},\ldots[/itex] is a sequence such that

[tex] e^{a_n} \to 1[/tex]

but

[tex] \prod_{k=1}^{n} e^{a_k} \to 0\;\textrm{or}\;\infty.[/tex]
 
Well that clears that up then :-p.

(edit: a moment of clarity)

in that case,

[tex]\log \zeta(z) = -\sum_p \log(1-p^{-z}) = \sum_p \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{p^{-nz}}{n}[/tex]

using the taylor series for log(1-x), we see that the sum remains finite.

Does that hold?
 
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As I realize now that what I said, although looking plausible does not prove anything.

However I looked into absolute convergence for products and it seems that the product,

[tex]\prod_i 1+a_i[/tex] converges absolutely iff [tex]\sum_i a_i[/tex] does so.

Apply with [tex]\prod_p \left( 1+\frac{1}{p^s-1} \right)[/tex] and you end up with the convergence of [tex]\sum_p \frac{1}{p^s-1}[/tex]
 
  • #10
I agree that the idea in the post #8 is the one that leads into the proof, but there are some details that have to be worked out. Do you have a proof for the claim in the post #9?

Anyway, my proof of the fact [itex]\zeta(z)\neq 0[/itex] for [itex]\textrm{Re}(z)>1[/itex] goes like this now. Firstly, we aim for the proof of

[tex] \log |\zeta(z)| > -\infty[/tex]

The real logarithm must be used unless somebody knows with certainty that a complex logarithm exists in the image of [itex]\zeta(\{z\in\mathbb{C}\;|\;\textrm{Re}(z)>1\})[/itex]. So the task becomes a proof of the claim

[tex] \sum_{p\in\mathbb{P}} \log\big(1 + p^{-2x} - 2p^{-x}\cos(y\log(p))\big) < \infty[/tex]

The Taylor series of the logarithm cannot be substituted right a way, because many of the terms inside logarithm may not be in domain of convergence [itex]]0,2[[/itex]. In order to prove that the series converges, it suffices to prove that it converges when the sum is restricted to values [itex]p>P[/itex] with some [itex]P[/itex]. When [itex]z[/itex] is fixed,

[tex] \lim_{p\to\infty}\big( p^{-2x} - 2p^{-x}\cos(y\log(p)) \big) = 0[/tex]

so we can choose sufficiently big [itex]P[/itex] so that the terms in the logarithm are inside the Taylor series' domain of convergence, and then the task is to prove that

[tex] \underset{p>P}{\sum_{p\in\mathbb{P}}} \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{n+1}}{n} \big(<br /> p^{-2x} - 2p^{-x}\cos(y\log(p))\big)^n[/tex]

converges.

[tex] \big| p^{-2x} - 2p^{-x}\cos(y\log(p))\big| \leq 3 p^{-x}[/tex]

so actually it suffices to prove

[tex] \underset{p>P}{\sum_{p\in\mathbb{P}}} \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n} p^{-xn} < \infty.[/tex]

This can be done with Fubini's theorem and some approximations.

[tex] \underset{p>P}{\sum_{p\in\mathbb{P}}} p^{-xn} \leq \int\limits_{P}^{\infty} p^{-xn} dp = \frac{P^{1-xn}}{xn-1}[/tex]

[tex] \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \underset{p>P}{\sum_{p\in\mathbb{P}}} \frac{1}{n}p^{-xn} \leq P \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{n^2} \frac{1}{x - \frac{1}{n}} P^{-xn} < \infty[/tex]
 

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