# information on an Euler product

The following Euler product came up in some sieving applications: $f(z, s) = \prod_{\mbox{primes}} \left(1-\frac{z}{p^s}\right).$

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This function has indeed been studied before. For example, its reciprocal is $$f(z,s)^{-1} = \prod_p \bigg( 1-\frac z{p^s} \bigg)^{-1} = \sum_{n=1}^\infty z^{\Omega(n)} n^{-s},$$ where $\Omega(n)$ is the number of prime factors of $n$ counted with multiplicity. When $|z| <2$, this function can be written as $$f(z,s)^{-1} = \zeta(s)^z g_z(s)$$ where the Dirichlet series $g_z$ converges for $\Re s > \frac12$. In particular, for $|z|<2$ the function $f(z,s)$ can be analytically continued to $\Re s > \frac12$ minus a branch cut on $[\frac12,1]$, say. Similar things can be said for larger $|z|$ as well, although now the individual factors in the product defining $f(z,s)$ can vanish.

Information about this function appears in Section 7.4 of Montgomery/Vaughan's Multiplicative Number Theory and Chapter 5 of Tenenbaum's Introduction to Analytic and Probabilistic Number Theory; the key words "Selberg-Delange method" might also help you find references.

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That's great, thanks! –  Igor Rivin Mar 28 '12 at 19:33