Functional equation (L-function): Difference between revisions

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{{UnreferencedMore citations needed|date=December 2009}}

In [[mathematics]], the [[L-function|''L''-function]]s of [[number theory]] are expected to have several characteristic properties, one of which is that they satisfy certain '''[[functional equation]]s'''. There is an elaborate theory of what these equations should be, much of which is still conjectural.

== Introduction ==

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:0 < σ < 1

in the ''critical strip'' to another such case, reflected in the line σ = ½. Therefore, use of the functional equation is basic, in order to study the zeta-function in the whole [[complex plane]].

The functional equation in question for the Riemann zeta function takes the simple form

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where ''Z''(''s'') is ζ(''s'') multiplied by a ''gamma-factor'', involving the [[gamma function]]. This is now read as an 'extra' factor in the [[Euler product]] for the zeta-function, corresponding to the [[infinite prime]]. Just the same shape of functional equation holds for the [[Dedekind zeta function]] of a [[number field]] ''K'', with an appropriate gamma-factor that depends only on the embeddings of ''K'' (in algebraic terms, on the [[tensor product of fields|tensor product]] of ''K'' with the [[real number|real field]]).

There is a similar equation for the [[Dirichlet L-function]]s, but this time relating them in pairs:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dlmf.nist.gov/25.15 |title=§25.15 Dirichlet -functions on NIST}}</ref>

:<math>\Lambda(s,\chi)=\varepsilon\Lambda(1-s,\chi^*)</math>

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== Theory of functional equations ==

A unified theory of such functional equations was given by [[Erich Hecke]], and the theory was taken up again in ''[[Tate's thesis]]'' by [[John Tate (mathematician)|John Tate]]. Hecke found generalised characters of number fields, now called [[Hecke character]]s, for which his proof (based on [[theta function]]s) also worked. These characters and their associated L-functions are now understood to be strictly related to [[complex multiplication]], as the Dirichlet characters are to [[cyclotomic field]]s.

There are also functional equations for the [[local zeta-function]]s, arising at a fundamental level for the (analogue of) [[Poincaré duality]] in [[étale cohomology]]. The Euler products of the [[Hasse-WeilHasse–Weil zeta-function]] for an [[algebraic variety]] ''V'' over a number field ''K'', formed by reducing ''modulo'' [[prime ideal]]s to get local zeta-functions, are conjectured to have a ''global'' functional equation; but this is currently considered out of reach except in special cases. The definition can be read directly out of étale cohomology theory, again; but in general some assumption coming from [[automorphic representation]] theory seems required to get the functional equation. The [[Taniyama–Shimura conjecture]] was a particular case of this as general theory. By relating the gamma-factor aspect to [[Hodge theory]], and detailed studies of the expected ε factor, the theory as empirical has been brought to quite a refined state, even if proofs are missing.

== See also ==

*[[explicitExplicit formula (L-function)]]

*[[Riemann–Siegel formula]] (particular approximate functional equation]])

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

*{{MathWorld|FunctionalEquation|Functional Equation}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Functional Equation (L-Function)}}