A-zeta

Return

#### THE ZETA FUNCTION

- Definition
- Rough calculation
- Figures
- Source Code

####

####

    Definition
       The Riemann zeta function zeta(s) of the complex variable s=sigma+it
    is written as an infinite series:-
                    n=oo
                     __   1
         Zeta(s) =  \    ____
                    /__   s
                    n=1  n

    Euler investigated this function in the 1700s and studied the special
    values s=1 and s=2.

    The zeta function is important in number theory. One of the greatest
    outstanding problems in mathematics concerns the locations of its
    zeros. Hardy proved that it has an infinite number of zeros on the
    half-line sigma = 1/2 [1]. The real problem is to prove that all its
    zeros lie on this line, excepting known zeros at the values s= -2n : n
    > 0. This statement about zeros is the famous RIEMANN HYPOTHESIS.

        Erica Klarreich [2] gave an interesting summary of recent work in New
    Scientist. A superficial observation shows that the zeta function is
    related to calculations used in quantum mechanics. Energy levels
    of electron orbits follow a series like  E=k/n^2 for n=1,2,..etc.
    All of this was known around 1908 when Niels Bohr invented quantum
    theory.

        In fact the zeta function crops up all over the place in numerical
    analysis because the values Zeta(2n) are related to Bernoulli numbers
    used in the Euler-MacLaurin summation formula which connects sums and
    integrals. Classical physics describes the universe in terms of infinitely
    differentiable functions, whereas quantum numbers require summation
    of series rather than integration of functions.

        There is a whole website devoted to Zeta(2).
        It's value is (PI*PI)/6, pisquaredoversix where PI=3.14159.

    Calculations
        Zeta(k) is the sum 1/n^k for integers n >=0.

        The series does not converge at all for k=1.

        The numbers n>1 split into even numbers 2n, and odd numbers 2n+1 so
    the sum Zeta(k) can be split:-

         Zeta(k) = sum 1/(2n)^k + sum 1/(2n+1)^k
                 = E(k)         + O(k)

         E(k) is in fact 1/2^k * Zeta(k)

         Define  A-zeta(k) =  1 - 1/2^k +1/3^k - 1/4^k ....

         The sum O(k)-E(k) = Zeta(k)-2*E(k) = (1-1/2^(k-1))* Zeta(k)

         so  Zeta(k) = A-zeta(k) / (1-1/2^(k-1))

         The series for A-zeta(k) has terms with alternating sign, so it is
    more convergent. There is no reason to expect very good convergence for
    values of 0< k <1 but using a few thousand terms of the series with
    complex values for k shows results compatible with textbooks[3].

        In APL try the expressions

    $ 12 8 z #sqrt 6* +/1%N*N<-1.0+i60000
      3.14157674
    $
    $ 12 8 z #sqrt 12*+/((rN)r1 _1)%N*N<-1.0+i30000
    $ 3.14159265

    The first few zeros on the line 1/2+it have the approximate t-values

    14.13 21.02 25.01 30.42 32.93 37.58 40.91 43.32 48.00 49.77 52.96 56.44
    59.34 60.83 65.11 67.07 69.54 72.06 75.70 77.14 79.33 82.91 84.73 87.42
    88.80 92.49 94.65 95.87 98.83 101.3 105.4 107.1 111.0 111.8 114.3 116.2
    118.7

####
Figures

Values of |A-zeta(0.5+it)| for t in the following ranges.

- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=0 .. 40
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=40 .. 80
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=80 .. 120
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=120 .. 160
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=160 .. 200
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=200 .. 240
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=240 .. 280
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=280 .. 320
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=320 .. 360
- |A-zeta(0.5+it)| t=360 .. 400

References
[1] G.H. Hardy, Comptes Rendus 158 (1914),280.
[2] A. Odlyzko "Primes, quantum chaos, and computers"
[3] Erica Klarreich," Prime Time, New Scientist, 11 Nov 2000 #2264."
More on Prime Numbers
[4] Complex Analysis unit 15 Number Theory
The Open University Press, 1975
ISBN 0 335 05556 7

Back to the Top