Skip to main content
Link to @FrançoisBrunault's idea
Source Link
LSpice
  • 12.9k
  • 4
  • 45
  • 69

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's ideaidea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^{16}\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{16\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(4k+1)^2/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{\ell=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i\ell^2/N}.$$ The $\ell$-sum is a classical Gauss sum whose fourth power is known to be $N^2$. Therefore, $S^{64N}\equiv T^{4N}=N^{2N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$, and hence $S\neq 0$ as claimed.

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's idea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^{16}\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{16\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(4k+1)^2/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{\ell=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i\ell^2/N}.$$ The $\ell$-sum is a classical Gauss sum whose fourth power is known to be $N^2$. Therefore, $S^{64N}\equiv T^{4N}=N^{2N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$, and hence $S\neq 0$ as claimed.

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's idea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^{16}\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{16\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(4k+1)^2/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{\ell=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i\ell^2/N}.$$ The $\ell$-sum is a classical Gauss sum whose fourth power is known to be $N^2$. Therefore, $S^{64N}\equiv T^{4N}=N^{2N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$, and hence $S\neq 0$ as claimed.

deleted 587 characters in body
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's idea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^2\equiv T\pmod{2}$$S^{16}\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}.$$$$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{16\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(4k+1)^2/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{\ell=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i\ell^2/N}.$$ It suffices to show that $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, because thenThe $S^{4N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$$\ell$-sum is a consequence. Let us write $$w:=1+i\qquad\text{and}\qquad f(z):=e^{2\pi i(2z^2+z)/N}.$$ We shall integrate on translates of the slanted line $w\mathbb{R}$, upwards. An application of the residue theorem shows that $$S=\int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}\frac{f(z+N)-f(z)}{e^{2\pi i z}-1}\,dz= \int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}f(z)\,(1+e^{2\pi iz}+e^{4\pi iz}+e^{6\pi iz})\,dz.$$ In the last integral, we can shift the contour to $w\mathbb{R}$, and then after writing $z=wt$ (where $t$ increases from $-\infty$ to $\infty$), itclassical Gauss sum whose fourth power is straightforwardknown to evaluate the four pieces coming from $1$, $e^{2\pi iz}$, $e^{4\pi iz}$,be $e^{6\pi iz}$$N^2$. The final result is $$T=\exp\left(\frac{\pi i}{4}-\frac{\pi i}{4N}\right)\sqrt{N}.$$ ThereforeTherefore, $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$$S^{64N}\equiv T^{4N}=N^{2N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$, and we are donehence $S\neq 0$ as claimed.

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's idea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^2\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}.$$ It suffices to show that $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, because then $S^{4N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$ is a consequence. Let us write $$w:=1+i\qquad\text{and}\qquad f(z):=e^{2\pi i(2z^2+z)/N}.$$ We shall integrate on translates of the slanted line $w\mathbb{R}$, upwards. An application of the residue theorem shows that $$S=\int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}\frac{f(z+N)-f(z)}{e^{2\pi i z}-1}\,dz= \int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}f(z)\,(1+e^{2\pi iz}+e^{4\pi iz}+e^{6\pi iz})\,dz.$$ In the last integral, we can shift the contour to $w\mathbb{R}$, and then after writing $z=wt$ (where $t$ increases from $-\infty$ to $\infty$), it is straightforward to evaluate the four pieces coming from $1$, $e^{2\pi iz}$, $e^{4\pi iz}$, $e^{6\pi iz}$. The final result is $$T=\exp\left(\frac{\pi i}{4}-\frac{\pi i}{4N}\right)\sqrt{N}.$$ Therefore, $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, and we are done.

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's idea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^{16}\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{16\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(4k+1)^2/N}=e^{-2\pi i/N}\sum_{\ell=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i\ell^2/N}.$$ The $\ell$-sum is a classical Gauss sum whose fourth power is known to be $N^2$. Therefore, $S^{64N}\equiv T^{4N}=N^{2N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$, and hence $S\neq 0$ as claimed.

edited body
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's idea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^2\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{M-1}e^{2\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}.$$$$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}.$$ It suffices to show that $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, because then $S^{4N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$ is a consequence. Let us write $$w:=1+i\qquad\text{and}\qquad f(z):=e^{2\pi i(2z^2+z)/N}.$$ We shall integrate on translates of the slanted line $w\mathbb{R}$, upwards. An application of the residue theorem shows that $$S=\int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}\frac{f(z+N)-f(z)}{e^{2\pi i z}-1}\,dz= \int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}f(z)\,(1+e^{2\pi iz}+e^{4\pi iz}+e^{6\pi iz})\,dz.$$ In the last integral, we can shift the contour to $w\mathbb{R}$, and then after writing $z=wt$ (where $t$ increases from $-\infty$ to $\infty$), it is straightforward to evaluate the four pieces coming from $1$, $e^{2\pi iz}$, $e^{4\pi iz}$, $e^{6\pi iz}$. The final result is $$T=\exp\left(\frac{\pi i}{4}-\frac{\pi i}{4N}\right)\sqrt{N}.$$ Therefore, $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, and we are done.

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's idea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^2\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{M-1}e^{2\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}.$$ It suffices to show that $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, because then $S^{4N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$ is a consequence. Let us write $$w:=1+i\qquad\text{and}\qquad f(z):=e^{2\pi i(2z^2+z)/N}.$$ We shall integrate on translates of the slanted line $w\mathbb{R}$, upwards. An application of the residue theorem shows that $$S=\int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}\frac{f(z+N)-f(z)}{e^{2\pi i z}-1}\,dz= \int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}f(z)\,(1+e^{2\pi iz}+e^{4\pi iz}+e^{6\pi iz})\,dz.$$ In the last integral, we can shift the contour to $w\mathbb{R}$, and then after writing $z=wt$ (where $t$ increases from $-\infty$ to $\infty$), it is straightforward to evaluate the four pieces coming from $1$, $e^{2\pi iz}$, $e^{4\pi iz}$, $e^{6\pi iz}$. The final result is $$T=\exp\left(\frac{\pi i}{4}-\frac{\pi i}{4N}\right)\sqrt{N}.$$ Therefore, $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, and we are done.

The sum does not vanish when $N$ is odd. I will elaborate on François Brunault's idea.

Assume that $N$ is odd, and let $S$ be the sum in question. Working in the ring $\mathbb{Z}[z]$, we see that $S^2\equiv T\pmod{2}$, where $$T:=\sum_{k=0}^{N-1}e^{2\pi i(2k^2+k)/N}.$$ It suffices to show that $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, because then $S^{4N}\equiv 1\pmod{2}$ is a consequence. Let us write $$w:=1+i\qquad\text{and}\qquad f(z):=e^{2\pi i(2z^2+z)/N}.$$ We shall integrate on translates of the slanted line $w\mathbb{R}$, upwards. An application of the residue theorem shows that $$S=\int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}\frac{f(z+N)-f(z)}{e^{2\pi i z}-1}\,dz= \int_{-1/2+w\mathbb{R}}f(z)\,(1+e^{2\pi iz}+e^{4\pi iz}+e^{6\pi iz})\,dz.$$ In the last integral, we can shift the contour to $w\mathbb{R}$, and then after writing $z=wt$ (where $t$ increases from $-\infty$ to $\infty$), it is straightforward to evaluate the four pieces coming from $1$, $e^{2\pi iz}$, $e^{4\pi iz}$, $e^{6\pi iz}$. The final result is $$T=\exp\left(\frac{\pi i}{4}-\frac{\pi i}{4N}\right)\sqrt{N}.$$ Therefore, $T^{2N}=(-1)^{(N-1)/2}N^N$, and we are done.

Post Undeleted by GH from MO
deleted 174 characters in body
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398
Loading
Post Deleted by GH from MO
added 15 characters in body
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398
Loading
added 15 characters in body
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398
Loading
added 15 characters in body
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398
Loading
added 6 characters in body
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398
Loading
Post Undeleted by GH from MO
deleted 49 characters in body
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398
Loading
Post Deleted by GH from MO
Source Link
GH from MO
  • 105.2k
  • 8
  • 292
  • 398
Loading