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For a full-rank Euclidean lattice $\Lambda \subset {\mathbb{R}}^n$, its dual lattice isIf $\Lambda =B{\mathbb{Z}}^n$, then ${\Lambda }^{\prime }=B^{-\mathsf{T}}{\mathbb{Z}}^n$, $m(\Lambda )=|\det B|$ and $m({\Lambda }^{\prime })=m(\Lambda {)}^{-1}$. The characters of a real torus identify the additive dual lattice with the multiplicative character group byThe map is well defined precisely because $u\in {\Lambda }^{\prime }$, and is injective. For surjectivity, a continuous group homomorphism from the compact torus into ${\mathbb{C}}^{\times }$ has compact image. Its modulus has logarithm a homomorphism into $(\mathbb{R},+)$ with compact image, hence is zero, so the image lies in the unit circle. Pull the character back to ${\mathbb{R}}^n$. Its continuous real lift under $t\mapsto e^{2\pi it}$, normalized to zero at the origin, is additive: its additive defect is an integer-valued continuous function and vanishes at the origin. A continuous additive function is $⟨u,x⟩$ for a unique $u$. Triviality on $\Lambda$ says $u\in {\Lambda }^{\prime }$, proving surjectivity.

Use the Fourier transform convention $\hat{f}(u)={\int }_{{\mathbb{R}}^n}f(x)e^{-2\pi i⟨u,x⟩}dx$, and take $f$ to be a Schwartz function. The periodization of a Schwartz function $P_f(x)={\sum }_{\lambda \in \Lambda }f(x+\lambda )$ is smooth and $\Lambda$-periodic. On a fundamental cell $F$, the coefficient of the torus character ${\chi }_u$ isThe equality follows by translating each cell and using $e^{2\pi i⟨u,\lambda ⟩}=1$. The rapidly convergent Fourier series can be evaluated at zero, yielding the Poisson summation formula for a Euclidean latticeThis argument keeps track of the covolume factor rather than tacitly assuming a unit-volume lattice.

For $\tau$ in the complex upper half-plane, let $g_{\tau }(x)=e^{\pi i\tau |x{|}^2}$. Scaling the self-dual real Gaussian function gives its Fourier transform at $\tau =it$, $t>0$, and holomorphic continuation in $\tau$ gives the complex Gaussian Fourier transformThe branch is $\exp [-(n/2)\mathrm{Log}(-i\tau )]$ with the logarithm on the right half-plane; it is positive for $\tau =it$. Both the integrals and the lattice sums are locally normally convergent on the complex upper half-plane. Applying the Poisson summation formula proves the lattice theta functional equationNo integrality or self-duality hypothesis on the lattice is needed.

Put $a=n/2$, $m=m(\Lambda )$ and ${\theta }_{\Lambda }(t)={\Theta }_{\Lambda }(it)$. The Epstein zeta function converges absolutely for $\mathrm{Re}s>a$, and its Mellin transform representation isAt infinity, ${\theta }_{\Lambda }(t)-1$ decays exponentially. Define the entire functionOn $(0,1)$, substitute ${\theta }_{\Lambda }(t)=m^{-1}{t}^{-a}{\theta }_{{\Lambda }^{\prime }}(1/t)$ and then $u=1/t$. Isolate the two elementary terms before integrating; this gives the pole-subtracted theta integral for an Epstein zeta functionThe formula initially holds for $\mathrm{Re}s>a$ and continues the completed Epstein zeta function meromorphically to all $\mathbb{C}$. Apply the same formula to the dual lattice at $a-s$, using $m({\Lambda }^{\prime })=m^{-1}$ and ${\Lambda }^{\prime \prime }=\Lambda$. The entire terms and the two rational terms match, provingFinally $E_{\Lambda }(s)={\pi }^s{\mathcal{E}}_{\Lambda }(s)/\Gamma (s)$ also continues meromorphically. Its only pole is a simple one at $s=n/2$, with residue ${\pi }^{n/2}/[m(\Lambda )\Gamma (n/2)]$; the pole of the completed function at zero is cancelled by $1/\Gamma (s)$, and $E_{\Lambda }(0)=-1$. The residues and this cancellation make explicit why subtracting the constant theta term was necessary.

Put $a=n/2$, $m=m(\Lambda )$ and $A_{\Lambda }(s)={\int }_1^{\infty }({\Theta }_{\Lambda }(it)-1)t^{s-1}dt$, which is entire. Splitting the Mellin transform at one and using the lattice theta functional equation gives ${\mathcal{E}}_{\Lambda }(s)=A_{\Lambda }(s)+m^{-1}{A}_{{\Lambda }^{\vee }}(a-s)+m^{-1}/(s-a)-1/s$. The two rational terms explicitly retain the contributions of the zero lattice vector.

A theta function is formed by summing an exponential quadratic expression over a Euclidean lattice. A basic one-dimensional example, in period-one spatial normalization, is^[ref]

Gaussian decay gives local uniform convergence, so it is an entire function of $z$ and a holomorphic function of $\tau$. Its value at $z=0$ is the Jacobi theta function in the $Q=e^{\pi i\tau }$ convention:The theta function with characteristics shifts the summation lattice and its phase; evaluating at $z=0$ gives a theta constant.

These sums translate geometric counting into analytic functions. The coefficient of $Q^n$ in $\Theta (0,\tau {)}^d$ counts ordered integer $d$-tuples with sum of squares $n$. For instance, the coefficient of $Q$ in the square is $4$, from $(\pm 1,0)$ and $(0,\pm 1)$. Poisson summation relates the sum over a Euclidean lattice to the sum over its dual lattice, producing the lattice theta functional equation. Termwise differentiation also gives the heat equation for theta functions with characteristics. These connections explain the role of theta functions in modular forms, Euclidean lattice geometry, and diffusion.