Primes from sums of two squares and missing digits

Let $\mathcal{A}'$ be the set of integers missing any three fixed digits from their decimal expansion. We produce primes in a thin sequence by proving an asymptotic formula for counting primes of the form $p = m^2 + \ell^2$, with $\ell \in \mathcal{A}'$. The proof draws on ideas from the work of Friedlander-Iwaniec on primes of the form $p = x^2+y^4$, as well as ideas from the work of Maynard on primes with restricted digits.Comment: 60 page

Landau-Siegel zeros and their illusory consequences

Updated time Abstract: Researchers have tried for many years to eliminate the possibility of LandauSiegel zeros—certain exceptional counterexamples to the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis. Often one thinks of these zeros as being a severe nuisance, but there are many situations in which their existence allows one to prove spectacular, though illusory, results. I will review some of this history and some of these results. In the latter portion of the talk I will discuss recent work, joint with H. M. Bui and Alexandru Zaharescu, in which we show that the existence of Landau-Siegel zeros has implications for the behavior of Dirichlet L-functions at the central point

The irrationality of a divisor function series of Erd\H{o}s and Kac

For positive integers $k$ and $n$ let $\sigma_k(n)$ denote the sum of the $k$th powers of the divisors of $n$. Erd\H{o}s and Kac asked whether, for every $k$, the number $\alpha_k = \sum_{n\geq 1} \frac{\sigma_k(n)}{n!}$ is irrational. It is known unconditionally that $\alpha_k$ is irrational if $k\leq 3$. We prove $\alpha_4$ is irrational.Comment: 28 page