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We provide some general results concerning efficiency of mollifiers used for instance for studying non-vanishing of central values of $L$-functions. As an application, we show that, in the context of non-vanishing of central values of Dirichlet $L$-functions, the Michel-Vanderkam mollifier is optimal in a wide class of balanced mollifiers., Comment: 48 pages

We study higher uniformity properties of the von Mangoldt function $\Lambda$, the M\"obius function $\mu$, and the divisor functions $d_k$ on short intervals $(x,x+H]$ for almost all $x \in [X, 2X]$. Let $\Lambda^\sharp$ and $d_k^\sharp$ be suitable approximants of $\Lambda$ and $d_k$, $G/\Gamma$ a filtered nilmanifold, and $F\colon G/\Gamma \to \mathbb{C}$ a Lipschitz function. Then our results imply for instance that when $X^{1/3+\varepsilon} \leq H \leq X$ we have, for almost all $x \in [X, 2X]$, \[ \sup_{g \in \text{Poly}(\mathbb{Z} \to G)} \left| \sum_{x < n \leq x+H} (\Lambda(n)-\Lambda^\sharp(n)) \overline{F}(g(n)\Gamma) \right| \ll H\log^{-A} X \] for any fixed $A>0$, and that when $X^{\varepsilon} \leq H \leq X$ we have, for almost all $x \in [X, 2X]$, \[ \sup_{g \in \text{Poly}(\mathbb{Z} \to G)} \left| \sum_{x < n \leq x+H} (d_k(n)-d_k^\sharp(n)) \overline{F}(g(n)\Gamma) \right| = o(H \log^{k-1} X). \] As a consequence, we show that the short interval Gowers norms $\|\Lambda-\Lambda^\sharp\|_{U^s(X,X+H]}$ and $\|d_k-d_k^\sharp\|_{U^s(X,X+H]}$ are also asymptotically small for any fixed $s$ in the same ranges of $H$. This in turn allows us to establish the Hardy-Littlewood conjecture and the divisor correlation conjecture with a short average over one variable. Our main new ingredients are type $II$ estimates obtained by developing a "contagion lemma" for nilsequences and then using this to "scale up" an approximate functional equation for the nilsequence to a larger scale. This extends an approach developed by Walsh for Fourier uniformity., Comment: 104 pages

In 1970, Huxley obtained a sharp upper bound for the sixth moment of Dirichlet $L$-functions at the central point, averaged over primitive characters $\chi$ modulo $q$ and all moduli $q \leq Q$. In 2007, as an application of their ``asymptotic large sieve'', Conrey, Iwaniec and Soundararajan showed that when an additional short $t$-averaging is introduced into the problem, an asymptotic can be obtained. In this paper we show that this extraneous averaging can be removed, and we thus obtain an asymptotic for the original moment problem considered by Huxley. The main new difficulty in our work is the appearance of certain challenging ``unbalanced'' sums that arise as soon as the $t$-aspect averaging is removed., Comment: 49 pages

Weighted sieves are used to detect numbers with at most $S$ prime factors with $S \in \mathbb{N}$ as small as possible. When one studies problems with two variables in somewhat symmetric roles (such as Chen primes, that is primes $p$ such that $p+2$ has at most two prime factors), one can utilize the switching principle. Here we discuss how different sieve weights work in such a situation, concentrating in particular in detecting a prime along with a product of at most three primes. As applications, we improve on the works of Yang and Harman concerning Diophantine approximation with a prime and an almost prime, and prove that, in general, one can find a pair $(p, P_3)$ when both the original and the switched problem have level of distribution at least $0.267$.

In this note we investigate connections between zero density estimates for the Riemann zeta function and large value estimates for Dirichlet polynomials. It is well known that estimates of the latter type imply estimates of the former type. Our goal is to show that there is an implication to the other direction as well, i.e. zero density estimates for the Riemann zeta function imply large value estimates for Dirichlet polynomials., Comment: 16 pages

We develop a sieve that can detect primes in multiplicatively structured sets under certain conditions. We apply it to obtain a new $L$-function free proof of Linnik's problem of bounding the least prime $p$ such that $p\equiv a\pmod q$ (with the bound $p \ll q^{350}$) as well as a new $L$-function free proof that the interval $(x-x^{39/40}, x]$ contains primes for every large $x$. In a future work we will develop the sieve further and provide more applications., Comment: 33 pages

We prove an asymptotic formula for the eighth moment of Dirichlet $L$-functions averaged over primitive characters $\chi$ modulo $q$, over all moduli $q\leq Q$ and with a short average on the critical line. Previously the same result was shown conditionally on the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis by the first two authors.

We study non-vanishing of Dirichlet $L$-functions at the central point under the unlikely assumption that there exists an exceptional Dirichlet character. In particular we prove that if $\psi$ is a real primitive character modulo $D \in \mathbb{N}$ with $L(1, \psi) \ll (\log D)^{-25-\varepsilon}$, then, for any prime $q \in [D^{300}, D^{O(1)}]$, one has $L(1/2, \chi) \neq 0$ for almost all Dirichlet characters $\chi \pmod{q}$., Comment: Published version, incorporated referee's comments

A conjecture of Erd\H{o}s states that, for any large prime $q$, every reduced residue class $\pmod q$ can be represented as a product $p_1p_2$ of two primes $p_1,p_2\leq q$. We establish a ternary version of this conjecture, showing that, for any sufficiently large cube-free integer $q$, every reduced residue class $\pmod q$ can be written as $p_1p_2p_3$ with $p_1,p_2,p_3\leq q$ primes. We also show that, for any $\varepsilon > 0$ and any sufficiently large integer $q$, at least $(2/3-\varepsilon)\varphi(q)$ reduced residue classes $\pmod q$ can be represented as a product $p_1 p_2$ of two primes $p_1, p_2 \leq q$. The problems naturally reduce to studying character sums. The main innovation in the paper is the establishment of a multiplicative dense model theorem for character sums over primes in the spirit of the transference principle. In order to deal with possible local obstructions we use bounds for the logarithmic density of primes in certain unions of cosets of subgroups of $\mathbb{Z}_q^\times$ of small index and study in detail the exceptional case that there exists a quadratic character $\psi \pmod{q}$ such that $\psi(p) = -1$ for almost all primes $p \leq q$., Comment: 45 pages; referee comments incorprated

We show that, for almost all $x$, the interval $(x, x+(\log x)^{2.1}]$ contains products of exactly two primes. This improves on a work of the second author that had $3.51$ in place of $2.1$. To obtain this improvement, we prove a new type II estimate. One of the new innovations is to use Heath-Brown's mean value theorem for sparse Dirichlet polynomials., Comment: 26 pages; referee comments incorporated; to appear in Trans. Am. Math. Soc

We study higher uniformity properties of the M\"obius function $\mu$, the von Mangoldt function $\Lambda$, and the divisor functions $d_k$ on short intervals $(X,X+H]$ with $X^{\theta+\varepsilon} \leq H \leq X^{1-\varepsilon}$ for a fixed constant $0 \leq \theta < 1$ and any $\varepsilon>0$. More precisely, letting $\Lambda^\sharp$ and $d_k^\sharp$ be suitable approximants of $\Lambda$ and $d_k$ and $\mu^\sharp = 0$, we show for instance that, for any nilsequence $F(g(n)\Gamma)$, we have \[ \sum_{X < n \leq X+H} (f(n)-f^\sharp(n)) F(g(n) \Gamma) \ll H \log^{-A} X \] when $\theta = 5/8$ and $f \in \{\Lambda, \mu, d_k\}$ or $\theta = 1/3$ and $f = d_2$. As a consequence, we show that the short interval Gowers norms $\|f-f^\sharp\|_{U^s(X,X+H]}$ are also asymptotically small for any fixed $s$ for these choices of $f,\theta$. As applications, we prove an asymptotic formula for the number of solutions to linear equations in primes in short intervals, and show that multiple ergodic averages along primes in short intervals converge in $L^2$. Our innovations include the use of multi-parameter nilsequence equidistribution theorems to control type $II$ sums, and an elementary decomposition of the neighbourhood of a hyperbola into arithmetic progressions to control type $I_2$ sums., Comment: 103 pages; Some typo fixes and a slight fix in proof of Proposition 2.14 compared to the published version, acknowledgment added

We study the distribution of prime numbers under the unlikely assumption that Siegel zeros exist. In particular we prove for \[ \sum_{n \leq X} \Lambda(n) \Lambda(\pm n+h) \] an asymptotic formula which holds uniformly for $h = O(X)$. Such an asymptotic formula has been previously obtained only for fixed $h$ in which case our result quantitatively improves those of Heath-Brown (1983) and Tao and Ter\"av\"ainen (2021). Since our main theorems work also for large $h$ we can derive new results concerning connections between Siegel zeros and the Goldbach conjecture and between Siegel zeros and primes in almost all very short intervals., Comment: The submitted version. Several typos and inaccuracies corrected, including some in the statements of our results

Singmaster's conjecture asserts that every natural number greater than one occurs at most a bounded number of times in Pascal's triangle; that is, for any natural number $t \geq 2$, the number of solutions to the equation $\binom{n}{m} = t$ for natural numbers $1 \leq m < n$ is bounded. In this paper we establish this result in the interior region $\exp(\log^{2/3+\varepsilon} n) \leq m \leq n-\exp(\log^{2/3 + \varepsilon} n)$ for any fixed $\varepsilon > 0$. Indeed, when $t$ is sufficiently large depending on $\varepsilon$, we show that there are at most four solutions (or at most two in either half of Pascal's triangle) in this region. We also establish analogous results for the equation $(n)_m = t$, where $(n)_m := n(n-1)\ldots(n-m+1)$ denotes the falling factorial., Comment: 33 pages

We show that as soon as $h\to \infty$ with $X \to \infty$, almost all intervals $(x-h\log X, x]$ with $x \in (X/2, X]$ contain a product of at most two primes. In the proof we use Richert's weighted sieve, with the arithmetic information eventually coming from results of Deshouillers and Iwaniec on averages of Kloosterman sums., Comment: Accepted version (to appear in J. Lond. Math. Soc.). Compared to v2 the exposition has been improved following rereree's suggestions

Let $\lambda$ denote the Liouville function. We show that, as $X \rightarrow \infty$, $$\int_{X}^{2X} \sup_{\substack{P(Y)\in \mathbb{R}[Y]\\ deg(P)\leq k}} \Big | \sum_{x \leq n \leq x + H} \lambda(n) e(-P(n)) \Big |\ dx = o ( X H)$$ for all fixed $k$ and $X^{\theta} \leq H \leq X$ with $0 < \theta < 1$ fixed but arbitrarily small. Previously this was only established for $k \leq 1$. We obtain this result as a special case of the corresponding statement for (non-pretentious) $1$-bounded multiplicative functions that we prove. In fact, we are able to replace the polynomial phases $e(-P(n))$ by degree $k$ nilsequences $\overline{F}(g(n) \Gamma)$. By the inverse theory for the Gowers norms this implies the higher order asymptotic uniformity result $$\int_{X}^{2X} \| \lambda \|_{U^{k+1}([x,x+H])}\ dx = o ( X )$$ in the same range of $H$. We present applications of this result to patterns of various types in the Liouville sequence. Firstly, we show that the number of sign patterns of the Liouville function is superpolynomial, making progress on a conjecture of Sarnak about the Liouville sequence having positive entropy. Secondly, we obtain cancellation in averages of $\lambda$ over short polynomial progressions $(n+P_1(m),\ldots, n+P_k(m))$, which in the case of linear polynomials yields a new averaged version of Chowla's conjecture. We are in fact able to prove our results on polynomial phases in the wider range $H\geq \exp((\log X)^{5/8+\varepsilon})$, thus strengthening also previous work on the Fourier uniformity of the Liouville function., Comment: 107 pages; to appear in Ann. of Math

We determine the behavior of multiplicative functions vanishing at a positive proportion of prime numbers in almost all short intervals. Furthermore we quantify "almost all" with uniform power-saving upper bounds, that is, we save a power of the suitably normalized length of the interval regardless of how long or short the interval is. Such power-saving bounds are new even in the special case of the M\"obius function. These general results are motivated by several applications. First, we strengthen work of Hooley on sums of two squares by establishing an asymptotic for the number of integers that are sums of two squares in almost all short intervals. Previously only the order of magnitude was known. Secondly, we extend this result to general norm forms of an arbitrary number field $K$ (sums of two squares are norm-forms of $\mathbb{Q}(i)$). Thirdly, Hooley determined the order of magnitude of the sum of $(s_{n + 1} - s_{n})^{\gamma}$ with $\gamma \in (1, 5/3)$ where $s_{1} < s_2 < \ldots$ denote integers representable as sums of two squares. We establish a similar results with $\gamma \in (1, 3/2)$ and $s_n$ the sequence of integers representable as norm-forms of an arbitrary number field $K$. This is the first such result for a number field of degree greater than two. Assuming the Riemann Hypothesis for all Hecke $L$-functions we also show that $\gamma \in (1,2)$ is admissible. Fourthly, we improve on a recent result of Heath-Brown about gaps between $x^{\varepsilon}$-smooth numbers. More generally, we obtain results about gaps between multiplicative sequences. Finally our result is useful in other contexts aswell, for instance in our forthcoming work on Fourier uniformity (joint with Terence Tao, Joni Terav\"ainen and Tamar Ziegler)., Comment: 89 pages

We evaluate asymptotically the variance of the number of squarefree integers up to $x$ in short intervals of length $H < x^{6/11 - \varepsilon}$ and the variance of the number of squarefree integers up to $x$ in arithmetic progressions modulo $q$ with $q > x^{5/11 + \varepsilon}$. On the assumption of respectively the Lindel\"of Hypothesis and the Generalized Lindel\"of Hypothesis we show that these ranges can be improved to respectively $H < x^{2/3 - \varepsilon}$ and $q > x^{1/3 + \varepsilon}$. Furthermore we show that obtaining a bound sharp up to factors of $H^{\varepsilon}$ in the full range $H < x^{1 - \varepsilon}$ is equivalent to the Riemann Hypothesis. These results improve on a result of Hall (1982) for short intervals, and earlier results of Warlimont, Vaughan, Blomer, Nunes and Le Boudec in the case of arithmetic progressions., Comment: 40 pages, 2 figures. Incorporated referees' comments. Accepted for publication in GAFA

We show that, for the M\"obius function $\mu(n)$, we have $$ \sum_{x < n\leq x+x^{\theta}}\mu(n)=o(x^{\theta}) $$ for any $\theta>0.55$. This improves on a result of Ramachandra from 1976, which is valid for $\theta>7/12$. Ramachandra's result corresponded to Huxley's $7/12$ exponent for the prime number theorem in short intervals. The main new idea leading to the improvement is using Ramar\'e's identity to extract a small prime factor from the $n$-sum. The proof method also allows us to improve on an estimate of Zhan for the exponential sum of the M\"obius function as well as some results on multiplicative functions and almost primes in short intervals., Comment: 18 pages; referee comments incorporated

Let $H = N^{\theta}, \theta > 2/3$ and $k \geq 1$. We obtain estimates for the following exponential sum over primes in short intervals: \[ \sum_{N < n \leq N+H} \Lambda(n) e(g(n)), \] where $g$ is a polynomial of degree $k$. As a consequence of this in the special case $g(n) = \alpha n^k$, we deduce a short interval version of the Waring-Goldbach problem., Comment: 20 pages

Let $\lambda$ denote the Liouville function. We show that as $X \rightarrow \infty$, $$ \int_{X}^{2X} \sup_{\alpha} \left | \sum_{x < n \leq x + H} \lambda(n) e(-\alpha n) \right | dx = o ( X H) $$ for all $H \geq X^{\theta}$ with $\theta > 0$ fixed but arbitrarily small. Previously, this was only known for $\theta > 5/8$. For smaller values of $\theta$ this is the first `non-trivial' case of local Fourier uniformity on average at this scale. We also obtain the analogous statement for (non-pretentious) $1$-bounded multiplicative functions. We illustrate the strength of the result by obtaining cancellations in the sum of $\lambda(n) \Lambda(n + h) \Lambda(n + 2h)$ over the ranges $h < X^{\theta}$ and $n < X$, and where $\Lambda$ is the von Mangoldt function., Comment: 52 pages, 10 figures

We study the problem of obtaining asymptotic formulas for the sums $\sum_{X < n \leq 2X} d_k(n) d_l(n+h)$ and $\sum_{X < n \leq 2X} \Lambda(n) d_k(n+h)$, where $\Lambda$ is the von Mangoldt function, $d_k$ is the $k^{\operatorname{th}}$ divisor function, $X$ is large and $k \geq l \geq 2$ are real numbers. We show that for almost all $h \in [-H, H]$ with $H = (\log X)^{10000 k \log k}$, the expected asymptotic estimate holds. In our previous paper we were able to deal also with the case of $\Lambda(n) \Lambda(n + h)$ and we obtained better estimates for the error terms at the price of having to take $H = X^{8/33 + \varepsilon}$., Comment: 46 pages; incorporated referee comments and corrected a few additional typos

We show that the expected asymptotic for the sums $\sum_{X < n \leq 2X} \Lambda(n) \Lambda(n+h)$, $\sum_{X < n \leq 2X} d_k(n) d_l(n+h)$, and $\sum_{X < n \leq 2X} \Lambda(n) d_k(n+h)$ hold for almost all $h \in [-H,H]$, provided that $X^{8/33+\varepsilon} \leq H \leq X^{1-\varepsilon}$, with an error term saving on average an arbitrary power of the logarithm over the trivial bound. Previous work of Mikawa, Perelli-Pintz and Baier-Browning-Marasingha-Zhao covered the range $H \geq X^{1/3+\varepsilon}$. We also obtain an analogous result for $\sum_n \Lambda(n) \Lambda(N-n)$. Our proof uses the circle method and some oscillatory integral estimates (following a paper of Zhan) to reduce matters to establishing some mean-value estimates for certain Dirichlet polynomials associated to "Type $d_3$" and "Type $d_4$" sums (as well as some other sums that are easier to treat). After applying H\"older's inequality to the Type $d_3$ sum, one is left with two expressions, one of which we can control using a short interval mean value theorem of Jutila, and the other we can control using exponential sum estimates of Robert and Sargos. The Type $d_4$ sum is treated similarly using the classical $L^2$ mean value theorem and the classical van der Corput exponential sum estimates., Comment: 80 pages, no figures. updated references

We consider the representation of the value of a class of optimal stopping problems of linear diffusions in a linearized form as an expected supremum of a known function. We establish an explicit integral representation of this representing function by utilizing the explicitly known marginals of the joint probability distribution of the extremal processes. We also delineate circumstances under which the value of a stopping problem induces directly this representation and show how it is connected with the monotonicity of the generator. We compare our findings with existing literature and show, for example, how our representation is linked to the smooth fit principle and how it coincides with the optimal stopping signal representation. The intricacies of the developed integral representation are explicitly illustrated in various examples arising in financial applications of optimal stopping., Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1505.01660

We study the optimal stopping problem of maximizing the variance of an unkilled linear diffusion. Especially, we demonstrate how the problem can be solved as a convex two-player zero-sum game, and reveal quite surprising application of game theory by doing so. Our main result shows that an optimal solution can, in general case, be found among stopping times that are mixtures of two hitting times. This and other revealed phenomena together with suggested solution methods could be helpful when facing more complex non-linear optimal stopping problems. The results are illustrated by a few examples., Comment: 37 pages, 1 figures

Let $\theta > 11/20$. We prove that every sufficiently large odd integer $n$ can be written as a sum of three primes $n = p_1 + p_2 + p_3$ with $|p_i - n/3| \leq n^{\theta}$ for $i\in\{1,2,3\}$., Comment: 27 pages

In this paper we prove two results concerning Vinogradov's three primes theorem with primes that can be called almost twin primes. First, for any $m$, every sufficiently large odd integer $N$ can be written as a sum of three primes $p_1, p_2$ and $p_3$ such that, for each $i \in \{1,2,3\}$, the interval $[p_i, p_i + H]$ contains at least $m$ primes, for some $H = H(m)$. Second, every sufficiently large integer $N \equiv 3 \pmod{6}$ can be written as a sum of three primes $p_1, p_2$ and $p_3$ such that, for each $i \in \{1,2,3\}$, $p_i + 2$ has at most two prime factors., Comment: 41 pages

For a set of primes $\mathcal{P}$, let $\Psi(x, \mathcal{P})$ be the number of positive integers $n \leq x$ all of whose prime factors lie in $\mathcal{P}$. In this paper we classify the sets of primes $\mathcal{P}$ such that $\Psi(x, \mathcal{P})$ is within a constant factor of its expected value. This task was recently initiated by Granville, Koukoulopoulos and Matom\"aki and their main conjecture is proved in this paper. In particular our main theorem implies that, if not too many large primes are sieved out in the sense that \[ \sum_{\substack{p \in \mathcal{P} \\ x^{1/v} < p \leq x^{1/u}}} \frac{1}{p} \geq \frac{1 + \varepsilon}{u}, \] for some $\varepsilon > 0$ and $v \geq u \geq 1$, then \[ \Psi(x, \mathcal{P}) \gg_{\varepsilon, v} x \prod_{\substack{p \leq x\\ p \notin\mathcal{P}}} \left(1 - \frac{1}{p}\right). \], Comment: 23 pages

Let $\lambda$ and $\mu$ denote the Liouville and M\"obius functions respectively. Hildebrand showed that all eight possible sign patterns for $(\lambda(n), \lambda(n+1), \lambda(n+2))$ occur infinitely often. By using the recent result of the first two authors on mean values of multiplicative functions in short intervals, we strengthen Hildebrand's result by proving that each of these eight sign patterns occur with positive lower natural density. We also obtain an analogous result for the nine possible sign patterns for $(\mu(n), \mu(n+1))$. A new feature in the latter argument is the need to demonstrate that a certain random graph is almost surely connected., Comment: 33 pages, minor typos correct, Proposition 2.9 added

We consider the problem of representing the value of singular stochastic control problems of linear diffusions as expected suprema. Setting the value accrued from following a standard reflection policy equal with the expected value of a unknown function at the running supremum of the underlying is shown to result into a functional equation from which the unknown function can be explicitly derived. We also consider the stopping problem associated with the considered singular stochastic control problem and present a similar representation as an expected supremum in terms of characteristics of the control problem., Comment: 22 pages, 1 figure

We consider the representation of the value of an optimal stopping problem of a linear diffusion as an expected supremum of a known function. We establish an explicit integral representation of this function by utilizing the explicitly known joint probability distribution of the extremal processes. We also delineate circumstances under which the value of a stopping problem induces directly this representation and show how it is connected with the monotonicity of the generator. We compare our findings with existing literature and show, for example, how our representation is linked to the smooth fit principle and how it coincides with the optimal stopping signal representation. The intricacies of the developed integral representation are explicitly illustrated in various examples arising in financial applications of optimal stopping., Comment: 36 pages, 4 figures

Let $\lambda$ denote the Liouville function. A well known conjecture of Chowla asserts that for any distinct natural numbers $h_1,\dots,h_k$, one has $\sum_{1 \leq n \leq X} \lambda(n+h_1) \dotsm \lambda(n+h_k) = o(X)$ as $X \to \infty$. This conjecture remains unproven for any $h_1,\dots,h_k$ with $k \geq 2$. In this paper, using the recent results of the first two authors on mean values of multiplicative functions in short intervals, combined with an argument of Katai and Bourgain-Sarnak-Ziegler, we establish an averaged version of this conjecture, namely $$\sum_{h_1,\dots,h_k \leq H} \left|\sum_{1 \leq n \leq X} \lambda(n+h_1) \dotsm \lambda(n+h_k)\right| = o(H^kX)$$ as $X \to \infty$ whenever $H = H(X) \leq X$ goes to infinity as $X \to \infty$, and $k$ is fixed. Related to this, we give the exponential sum estimate $$ \int_0^X \left|\sum_{x \leq n \leq x+H} \lambda(n) e(\alpha n)\right| dx = o( HX )$$ as $X \to \infty$ uniformly for all $\alpha \in \mathbb{R}$, with $H$ as before. Our arguments in fact give quantitative bounds on the decay rate (roughly on the order of $\frac{\log\log H}{\log H}$), and extend to more general bounded multiplicative functions than the Liouville function, yielding an averaged form of a (corrected) conjecture of Elliott., Comment: 32 pages; proof of Proposition A.3 corrected

In this note we give a short and self-contained proof that, for any $\delta > 0$, $\sum_{x \leq n \leq x+x^\delta} \lambda(n) = o(x^\delta)$ for almost all $x \in [X, 2X]$. We also sketch a proof of a generalization of such a result to general real-valued multiplicative functions. Both results are special cases of results in our more involved and lengthy recent pre-print., Comment: 12 pages, expository note

We introduce a general result relating "short averages" of a multiplicative function to "long averages" which are well understood. This result has several consequences. First, for the M\"obius function we show that there are cancellations in the sum of $\mu(n)$ in almost all intervals of the form $[x, x + \psi(x)]$ with $\psi(x) \rightarrow \infty$ arbitrarily slowly. This goes beyond what was previously known conditionally on the Density Hypothesis or the stronger Riemann Hypothesis. Second, we settle the long-standing conjecture on the existence of $x^{\epsilon}$-smooth numbers in intervals of the form $[x, x + c(\varepsilon) \sqrt{x}]$, recovering unconditionally a conditional (on the Riemann Hypothesis) result of Soundararajan. Third, we show that the mean-value of $\lambda(n)\lambda(n+1)$, with $\lambda(n)$ Liouville's function, is non-trivially bounded in absolute value by $1 - \delta$ for some $\delta > 0$. This settles an old folklore conjecture and constitutes progress towards Chowla's conjecture. Fourth, we show that a (general) real-valued multiplicative function $f$ has a positive proportion of sign changes if and only if $f$ is negative on at least one integer and non-zero on a positive proportion of the integers. This improves on many previous works, and is new already in the case of the M\"obius function. We also obtain some additional results on smooth numbers in almost all intervals, and sign changes of multiplicative functions in all intervals of square-root length., Comment: 41 pages; minor revision, taking into account the referee's comments, to appear in Ann. of Math; corrected small mistake in Ramare's identity. See equation (9) and the footnote below

We study the behavior of zeros and mass of holomorphic Hecke cusp forms on $SL_2(\mathbb Z) \backslash \mathbb H$ at small scales. In particular, we examine the distribution of the zeros within hyperbolic balls whose radii shrink sufficiently slowly as $k \rightarrow \infty$. We show that the zeros equidistribute within such balls as $k \rightarrow \infty$ as long as the radii shrink at a rate at most a small power of $1/\log k$. This relies on a new, effective, proof of Rudnick's theorem on equidistribution of the zeros and on an effective version of Quantum Unique Ergodicity for holomorphic forms, which we obtain in this paper. We also examine the distribution of the zeros near the cusp of $SL_2(\mathbb Z) \backslash \mathbb H$. Ghosh and Sarnak conjectured that almost all the zeros here lie on two vertical geodesics. We show that for almost all forms a positive proportion of zeros high in the cusp do lie on these geodesics. For all forms, we assume the Generalized Lindel\"of Hypothesis and establish a lower bound on the number of zeros that lie on these geodesics, which is significantly stronger than the previous unconditional results., Comment: 31 pages; new title, significant changes in exposition, and errors in section 4 corrected

Let $f$ be a holomorphic or Maass Hecke cusp form for the full modular group and write $\lambda_f(n)$ for the corresponding Hecke eigenvalues. We are interested in the signs of those eigenvalues. In the holomorphic case, we show that for some positive constant $\delta$ and every large enough $x$, the sequence $(\lambda_f(n))_{n \leq x}$ has at least $\delta x$ sign changes. Furthermore we show that half of non-zero $\lambda_f(n)$ are positive and half are negative. In the Maass case, it is not yet known that the coefficients are non-lacunary, but our method is robust enough to show that on the relative set of non-zero coefficients there is a positive proportion of sign changes. In both cases previous lower bounds for the number of sign changes were of the form $x^{\delta}$ for some $\delta < 1$., Comment: 19 pages. Complete re-write of the proof, with stronger results, following the referee's suggestions. To appear in GAFA

We will investigate the value and inactive region of optimal stopping and one-sided singular control problems by focusing on two fundamental ratios. We shall see that these ratios unambiguously characterize the solution, although usually only near boundaries. We will also study the well-known connection between these problems and find it to be a local property rather than a global one. The results are illustrated by a number of examples., Comment: 28 pages, 4 figures

We consider the optimal stopping of a class of spectrally negative jump diffusions. We state a set of conditions under which the value is shown to have a representation in terms of an ordinary nonlinear programming problem. We establish a connection between the considered problem and a stopping problem of an associated continuous diffusion process and demonstrate how this connection may be applied for characterizing the stopping policy and its value. We also establish a set of typically satisfied conditions under which increased volatility as well as higher jump-intensity decelerates rational exercise by increasing the value and expanding the continuation region., Comment: 32 pages, 3 figures

We are interested in classifying those sets of primes $\mathcal{P}$ such that when we sieve out the integers up to $x$ by the primes in $\mathcal{P}^c$ we are left with roughly the expected number of unsieved integers. In particular, we obtain the first general results for sieving an interval of length $x$ with primes including some in $(\sqrt{x},x]$, using methods motivated by additive combinatorics., Comment: 26 pages. Final version, published in Duke Math. J. Extended the results of Section 2. Some other minor changes

We introduce a new geometric approach to Sturmian words by means of a mapping that associates certain lines in the n x n -grid and sets of finite Sturmian words of length n. Using this mapping, we give new proofs of the formulas enumerating the finite Sturmian words and the palindromic finite Sturmian words of a given length. We also give a new proof for the well-known result that a factor of a Sturmian word has precisely two return words., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. A preprint of a paper to appear in Theoretical Computer Science