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The classical zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function and a truncated Perron formula givefor some absolute constant $c>0$. Take contour height $T=\exp (\sqrt{\log x})$ and move the Perron contour to $\Re s=1-c_1/\log T$.

First alternative. The Euler product of the Riemann zeta function is absolutely convergent for $\sigma >1$. Its logarithm and the nonnegative trigonometric polynomialgiveConsequently $\zeta (\sigma {)}^3|\zeta (\sigma +it){|}^4|\zeta (\sigma +2it)|\ge 1$. Suppose $t\ne 0$ and the Riemann zeta function had a zero of order $m\ge 1$ at $1+it$. As $\sigma \downarrow 1$, its simple pole at one gives $\zeta (\sigma )=O((\sigma -1{)}^{-1})$, the alleged zero gives $\zeta (\sigma +it)=O((\sigma -1{)}^m)$, and $\zeta (\sigma +2it)$ remains bounded. The product would be $O((\sigma -1{)}^{4m-3})\to 0$, contradicting its lower bound. Thus there are no zeta zeros on $\Re s=1$; the point $s=1$ itself is a pole, not a zero.

For the first integral of the Chebyshev function, defineThe logarithmic derivative identity $-{\zeta }^{\prime }/\zeta (s)={\sum }_n\Lambda (n)n^{-s}$, valid for $\Re s>1$, leads toTo verify the kernel rather than assume an inversion formula, integrate $y^s/(s(s+1))$ on the vertical line $\Re s=c$. Closing to the left when $y>1$ gives the residues at zero and minus one, namely $1-y^{-1}$; closing to the right when $0<y<1$ gives zero. At $y=1$ the integral is zero as well. The horizontal integrals tend to zero because of the quadratic denominator, and the distant vertical integrals vanish in the indicated direction. Multiplying this kernel by $x$ with $y=x/n$ gives $(x-n{)}^{+}$. The absolute convergence of the Dirichlet series on $\Re s=c$, together with the integrable denominator, permits interchange with the integral and proves the formula.

Here is a quantitative contour route from this relation to the Prime number theorem. Question 3 establishes a zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function and the accompanying bounds for its logarithmic derivative, independently of the Prime number theorem. In a sufficiently narrow half-width region they implyon the left and horizontal sides of the rectangle with heights $\pm T$ and left edge ${\sigma }_L=1-b/(2\log (T+3))$, after making $b>0$ small enough also for bounded heights. The explanation of this bound is included at the end of Question 3. Take $c=1+1/\log x$ and $T=\exp (\sqrt{\log x})$. On the original line, the omitted tails aresince the Euler product bounds $|{\zeta }^{\prime }/\zeta (c+it)|$ by $-{\zeta }^{\prime }/\zeta (c)=O(\log x)$. Shift the truncated integral to the left edge. The only enclosed pole is at $s=1$, with residue $x^2/2$; the kernel poles at zero and minus one lie outside the rectangle. The left edge contributes $O(x^{2-b/(2\log (T+3))}{\log }^2(T+3))$, since $|s(s+1){|}^{-1}\ll (1+t^2{)}^{-1}$ there. The two horizontal edges contribute $O(x^2{\log }^2(T+3)/T^2)$. In particular, for some $a>0$,

It remains to remove the smoothing; differentiating an asymptotic formula would not justify this step. The monotonicity of the Second Chebyshev function gives, for $h=\epsilon x$ with $0<\epsilon <1$,First let $x\to \infty$ with $\epsilon$ fixed. After division by $x$, the lower and upper bounds tend to $1-\epsilon /2$ and $1+\epsilon /2$. Let $\epsilon \downarrow 0$ to obtain $\psi (x)\sim x$. Higher prime powers contribute $O(\sqrt{x}\log x)$ by the Chebyshev estimate, so $\theta (x)\sim x$. Finally partial summation givesThe integral is $O(x/{\log }^{2}x)$, by splitting at $\sqrt{x}$ and using $\theta (t)=O(t)$. This proves the Prime number theorem with $\pi (x)\sim x/\log x$.

Second alternative. We prove the functional equation of the Riemann zeta function from a theta function. Set $\Theta (u)={\sum }_{n\in \mathbb{Z}}{e}^{-\pi n^{2}u}$ for $u>0$. With Fourier transform convention $\hat{f}(\xi )={\int }_{\mathbb{R}}f(v)e^{-2\pi iv\xi }dv$, the Gaussian function $f(v)=e^{-\pi u{v}^2}$ hasIndeed, differentiation under the integral and integration by parts give ${\hat{f}}^{\prime }(\xi )=-2\pi \xi \hat{f}(\xi )/u$, while the Gaussian integral gives $\hat{f}(0)=u^{-1/2}$. Periodize $f$: the smooth period-one function ${\sum }_{n}f(v+n)$ has Fourier coefficients $\hat{f}(k)$, by integrating on $[0,1]$ and interchanging its absolutely convergent sum with the integral. Its absolutely convergent Fourier series, evaluated at zero, proves the Poisson summation formula in this case. HenceFor $\Re s>1$, termwise integration and the defining integral of the Gamma function give the Mellin representation of the completed Riemann zeta function:Split at one and substitute $u=1/v$ in the lower integral. The elementary part isand the remaining part becomes an integral over $[1,\infty )$. ThusThe integral is an entire function of $s$, because $\Theta (u)-1$ decays exponentially and uniform convergence holds on every compact subset of the complex plane. This proves meromorphic continuation of the completed Riemann zeta function, with only the displayed simple poles, and the right side is invariant under $s\mapsto 1-s$. ThereforeThe Gamma reflection formula and Gamma duplication formula give the equivalent form $\zeta (s)=2^s{\pi }^{s-1}\sin (\pi s/2)\Gamma (1-s)\zeta (1-s)$, understood by meromorphic continuation. Multiplication by $s(s-1)/2$ gives the entire Riemann xi function $\xi (s)=\xi (1-s)$.

Let $N(T)$ count positive ordinates of Nontrivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function up to height $T$, including multiplicity. The Riemann–von Mangoldt formula isMore precisely, away from ordinates of zeros, the constant term is $7/8$, the additional term is $S(T)={\pi }^{-1}\arg \zeta (1/2+iT)$, and the remaining error is $O(T^{-1})$. Here the argument is continued along $2\to 2+iT\to 1/2+iT$, and $S(T)=O(\log T)$. The coarse formula displayed above holds at all large heights with the usual right-continuous counting convention. Subtract it at $T+1$ and $T$: the main term changes by $O(\log T)$ and each error is $O(\log T)$. Hence

For infinitely many reciprocal-logarithmic gaps between zeta zeros, fix any $0<c<2\pi$, for example $c=\pi$. Suppose all sufficiently late gaps satisfied ${\gamma }_{n+1}-{\gamma }_n\le c/\log n$. Summing and usinggives ${\gamma }_n\le (c+o(1))n/\log n$. The last elementary estimate follows by integral comparison with $1/\log t$ and one integration by parts. The Riemann–von Mangoldt formula would implya contradiction. This reasoning is valid whether repeated ordinates are listed according to multiplicity or only distinct ordinates are listed, since in either case $n\le N({\gamma }_n)$. Consequently ${\gamma }_{n+1}-{\gamma }_n>c/\log n$ infinitely often, for any fixed $0<c<2\pi$.

Write $s=\sigma +it$ and let $\rho =\beta +i\gamma$ run over Nontrivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function, including multiplicity. The bounds involving $\log |t|$ below are for $|t|\ge 3$. At bounded heights their uniform versions use $\log (|t|+3)$; $\log |t|$ itself cannot be the right bound near zero or $|t|=1$.

Start with the Hadamard factorization of the Riemann xi function, an entire function of order one. Its logarithmic derivative has the convergent expansionDifferentiating $\xi (s)=\frac{1}{2}s(s-1){\pi }^{-s/2}\Gamma (s/2)\zeta (s)$ givesThe real sum of $1/\rho$ converges absolutely: $0\le \beta \le 1$ makes its terms $O({\gamma }^{-2})$ at large height, and the order-one Hadamard factorization ensures the required summability. Thus these terms and $\Re B$ form a fixed constant. The Stirling formula for the digamma function gives, uniformly for $1<\sigma \le 2$ and $|t|\ge 3$,This is the useful real form of the global partial-fraction expansion of the zeta logarithmic derivative. Every term subtracted is nonnegative because the Euler product excludes zeros with $\beta >1$. At the simple pole $s=1$, one also has $F(\sigma )=1/(\sigma -1)+O(1)$ as $\sigma \downarrow 1$.

The three-four-one zero-free-region argument now detects a zero too close to one. The Von Mangoldt function is nonnegative and the absolutely convergent Dirichlet series givesbecause the corresponding coefficient at $n$ is $\Lambda (n)n^{-\sigma }[3+4\cos (t\log n)+\cos (2t\log n)]$. If $\beta +it$ is a zero, retain its term in the expansion at height $t$ and discard the other nonpositive terms. The expansion at height $2t$ gives an upper bound even without retaining a particular zero. We obtain, for an absolute constant $C_0>0$,Choose $0<a<1$ so small that $5/(9a)>C_0$, put $b=a/8$, and take $\sigma =1+a/\log |t|$. If $1-\beta \le b/\log |t|$, the last inequality would requirea contradiction. Thereforefor some fixed $b>0$. This proves the required zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function. Nonvanishing on $\Re s=1$ at bounded nonzero heights, proved in Question 2, and the isolation of zeros allow a decrease of $b$ giving the uniform formulation with $\log (|t|+3)$ as well. Near $s=1$, apply this observation to the nonzero holomorphic function $(s-1)\zeta (s)$.

Next evaluate the real expansion at $\sigma =2$. The absolutely convergent Dirichlet series bounds $|{\zeta }^{\prime }/\zeta (2+it)|\le {\sum }_n\Lambda (n)n^{-2}$ uniformly in $t$, soSince $1\le 2-\beta \le 2$, each term on the left is at least $1/[4+(t-\gamma {)}^2]$. The smoothed zeta zero-count bound follows:Each zero satisfying $|t-\gamma |<1$ contributes more than $1/5$, so this also gives the local zero count for the Riemann zeta function:The same kernel sum is bounded at compact heights, since its tail converges uniformly there; the bounds with $\log (|t|+3)$ are consequently valid for all real $t$.

For completeness, the contour estimate used in Question 2 follows from these very formulas. Subtract the complex logarithmic derivative expansion at $2+it$ from that at $\sigma +it$, with $1-b/(2\log (T+3))\le \sigma \le 2$ and $|t|\le T$. Terms with $|t-\gamma |>1$ have differences $O((t-\gamma {)}^{-2})$, whose sum is $O(\log (|t|+3))$ by the kernel bound. There are $O(\log (|t|+3))$ remaining terms. After reducing $b$, the zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function separates every such zero horizontally from the half-width boundary by $\gg 1/\log (T+3)$: their heights satisfy $|\gamma |\le T+1$. Thus on the left edge, and on the horizontal edges at $t=\pm T$, each reciprocal is $O(\log (T+3))$. The Gamma function and pole terms satisfy the same required bound; at small heights on the left edge the pole distance is $\gg 1/\log (T+3)$. This proves $|{\zeta }^{\prime }/\zeta |\ll {\log }^2(T+3)$ on those edges and justifies the contour shift without choosing heights that dodge unknown zeros.

The permitted zero-count bound $N(T)\ll T\log (T+2)$ implies, by partial summation,Indeed, the zeros with $|\rho |\le 1$ contribute a bounded amount since $\xi (0)\ne 0$; the rest contribute $N(T)/T+{\int }_1^{T}N(u)u^{-2}du$. For every zero in the sum, the preceding zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function givesThe supplied truncated explicit formula for the second Chebyshev function therefore impliesChoose $T=\exp (a\sqrt{\log x})$, with any fixed positive $a$ and then, for example, $a=\sqrt{c}$. Both terms have exponential decay in $\sqrt{\log x}$, and the logarithmic factors can be absorbed by slightly decreasing its coefficient. Hence, for some absolute $b>0$,If the truncated formula is taken only at admissible heights and non-prime-power endpoints, choose such heights of the same size and first apply it at half-integers. Monotonicity and the $O(\log x)$ jump of $\psi$ at an integer transfer this bound to all $x$; these convention choices do not change the conclusion.

To pass from prime powers to primes, let $\vartheta (x)={\sum }_{p\le x}\log p$. The higher prime-power contribution satisfiesThus $\vartheta (x)\sim x$. Apply partial summation again:The integral is $O(x/{\log }^{2}x)$: use $\vartheta (t)\ll t$ and split at $\sqrt{x}$. It is therefore smaller than the first term, which is asymptotic to $x/\log x$. This proves the Prime number theorem in the requested form

Put $F(s)=-{\zeta }^{\prime }(s)/\zeta (s)$. The Euler product gives $F(s)={\sum }_{n\ge 1}\Lambda (n)n^{-s}$ for $\Re s>1$. The elementary nonnegative polynomialtherefore gives the three-four-one zero-free-region argument:The coefficients $\Lambda (n)$ are nonnegative; applying the identity with $u=t\log n$ justifies the inequality term by term.

Take real parts in the global partial-fraction expansion of the zeta logarithmic derivative. For $1<\sigma \le 2$, the digamma function bounds yieldAll terms in the zero sum are nonnegative, because the Euler product and completed functional equation locate the nontrivial zeros in the closed critical strip. The constant terms are bounded: in particular ${\sum }_{\rho }\Re (1/\rho )={\sum }_{\rho }\beta /|\rho {|}^2$ converges. Near the real pole, $F(\sigma )=1/(\sigma -1)+O(1)$.

First exclude zeros on the line one. If $1+it$, $t\ne 0$, were a zero of multiplicity $m\ge 1$, the selected zero term would giveInserted into the positivity inequality, this yields $0\le (3-4m)/(\sigma -1)+O_t(1)$, impossible as $\sigma \downarrow 1$. At $t=0$, zeta has a pole, with a punctured neighbourhood containing no zeros. Thus the line one has no zeros.

Now let $\rho =\beta +i\gamma$ with $|\gamma |\ge 1$ and put $L=\log (|\gamma |+2)$. Select this zero in the formula at $t=\gamma$ and discard every other nonnegative zero kernel. The pole terms at heights $\gamma ,2\gamma$ are bounded. ConsequentlyChoose a fixed positive $a$ small enough that $C_{1}a\le 1/2$ and $1+a/L\le 2$, and set $\sigma =1+a/L$, $h=1-\beta$. Rearranging givesThis is the required logarithmic gap at large height.

For $|\gamma |\le 1$, zeros with $\beta \le 1/2$ already have a fixed gap. The remaining compact region contains finitely many zeros, none on the line one; the pole at one cannot be an accumulation point of zeros. Hence those zeros also have a fixed positive distance from that line. Reduce the absolute constant to cover this bounded-height region and to make the preceding weak inequality strict. The zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function is thereforeThis proof has established boundary nonvanishing as well as the quantitative gap, rather than assuming the former implicitly.

Write $F(s)=-{\zeta }^{\prime }(s)/\zeta (s)$ and ${\psi }_{\Gamma }={\Gamma }^{\prime }/\Gamma$. The global partial-fraction expansion of the zeta logarithmic derivative isHere $\gamma$ is the Euler--Mascheroni constant, and the sum includes multiplicities of the Nontrivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function. The paired terms are locally absolutely convergent away from their poles, by the Riemann–von Mangoldt formula. This identity follows by differentiating the genus-one Hadamard factorization of the Riemann xi function and using the Gamma function recurrence.

We first prove the classical zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function. The Euler-product nonvanishing of the Riemann zeta function and its functional equation place every nontrivial zero in the closed strip $0\le \beta \le 1$; no assertion about zeros on its boundary is needed yet. The real logarithmic derivative of Riemann xi and the digamma function asymptotic imply, for $1<\sigma \le 2$ and $|t|\ge 1$,Every summand being subtracted is nonnegative. If $\beta +it$ is a zero, retaining its summand gives $\Re F(\sigma +it)\le C\log (|t|+2)-1/(\sigma -\beta )$; at height $2t$ the upper bound $C\log (|t|+2)$ suffices. At real $\sigma$ the simple pole of $\zeta$ gives $F(\sigma )=1/(\sigma -1)+O(1)$.

For $\sigma >1$, the Dirichlet series $F(s)={\sum }_n\Lambda (n)n^{-s}$ has nonnegative coefficients. The identity $3+4\cos u+\cos 2u=2(1+\cos u{)}^2\ge 0$ therefore gives the three-four-one zero-free-region argumentWith $L=\log (|t|+2)$, a zero at $\beta +it$ would consequently satisfyChoose $\sigma =1+a/L$, with an absolute $a>0$ sufficiently small, and put $c=a/8$. If $\beta \ge 1-c/L$, this inequality would imply $4/(a+c)\le 3/a+C$. But $4/(a+a/8)-3/a=5/(9a)>C$ for small enough $a$, a contradiction.

For any fixed $t\ne 0$, the same positivity inequality as $\sigma \downarrow 1$ excludes a zero at $1+it$: its negative contribution has coefficient at least four, whereas the real pole contributes only three. Any zero at $1+2it$ only strengthens the contradiction. The pole at $s=1$ has a zero-free punctured neighbourhood. By compactness, the remaining bounded-height portion of the line has a zero-free neighbourhood as well. Shrink $c$ to combine these facts with the large-height bound. Hencewith the understanding that $s=1$ is a pole.

The Riemann–von Mangoldt explicit formula for the Second Chebyshev function, with half weight at a prime-power endpoint, isThe zero sum uses symmetric height truncation. To estimate it, take a half-integer $x$ and use the truncated explicit formula for the second Chebyshev functionThe zero-free region gives $|x^{\rho }|\le x\exp (-c\log x/\log (T+2))$ for these zeros. The Riemann–von Mangoldt formula and partial summation give ${\sum }_{|\Im \rho |\le T}|\rho {|}^{-1}\ll {\log }^2(T+2)$. Choose $T=\exp (\sqrt{\log x})$. Both the zero sum and the truncation error are then $O(x{e}^{-c^{\prime }\sqrt{\log x}})$ after reducing the positive constant to absorb logarithmic factors. Replacing an arbitrary $X$ by $\lfloor X\rfloor +1/2$ preserves the Von Mangoldt function sum and changes the main term by at most one. This proves the requested form of the Prime number theorem:

The truncated Perron formula says that, for $c>1$ and $T\ge 2$,where an endpoint has half weight and the error is controlled by

Apply this with $a_n=\mu (n)$, $c=1+1/\log x$, andPart (b) makes the integrand $x^s/(s\zeta (s))$. Move the contour tousing a contour that stays inside the zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function near small $|t|$. The estimates supplied in the question give $1/\zeta (s)\ll \log (|t|+3)$ on the new contour. Its vertical segment is thereforeafter decreasing $c_3$. The horizontal segments and the Perron truncation error areNo residue is crossed because $1/\zeta (s)$ has a zero, rather than a pole, at $s=1$. Thus the Mertens function satisfiesfor some absolute $c>0$.

For $\sigma >1$, put $F(s)=-{\zeta }^{\prime }(s)/\zeta (s)$. Its absolutely convergent Dirichlet series andgive the three-four-one zero-free-region argumentThe pole of $\zeta$ at one gives

Suppose $\rho =\beta +i\gamma$ is a zero with $\gamma \ge 4$ and $\beta$ close to one. Apply the supplied Local partial-fraction expansion of the Riemann zeta logarithmic derivative at $\sigma +i\gamma$. Every term has positive real part, so retaining the term belonging to $\rho$ givesAt $\sigma +2i\gamma$ the same expansion gives merely $\Re F(\sigma +2i\gamma )\le O(\log \gamma )$. The zero is included in the supplied disk whenever $1-\beta$ and $\sigma -1$ are sufficiently small. Hence

Set $L=\log \gamma$ and $\sigma =1+a/L$, where $a>0$ is a sufficiently small fixed constant. If $(1-\beta )L$ were smaller than a sufficiently small constant $c>0$, division by $L$ would givea contradiction. Conjugation handles negative $\gamma$. Reducing $c$ to absorb the bounded range proves the classical zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function

The Mellin transform of $F$ isBecause the support is a compact subset of $(0,\infty )$, the integral defines an entire function of $s$. The Mellin inversion formula says that, for every real $\sigma$ and every $y>0$,

Apply this with $y=n/X$ and initially $\sigma =2$. Absolute convergence of the Dirichlet series for the logarithmic derivative permits interchange of sum and integral, givingTruncate at height $T=(\log X{)}^A$, where $A$ is a sufficiently large fixed constant. The assumed bound on $\tilde{F}$ makes the discarded tails smaller than the required error. The classical zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function and the standard bound ${\zeta }^{\prime }(s)/\zeta (s)\ll (\log (|t|+3){)}^{O(1)}$ there allow the truncated contour to move toThe only singularity crossed is the simple pole of $-{\zeta }^{\prime }/\zeta$ at $s=1$, whose residue is $1$. Its contribution isOn the new contour, $|X^s|=X^{1-c/\log \log X}$; the zeta bounds, contour length, and exponential decay of $\tilde{F}$ absorb into a slight decrease of $c$. ThereforeThis is the smoothed prime number theorem from a zero-free region.

Let $L=\log x$ and choosewith fixed positive $a,b$ chosen so that the rectangle up to height $T$ lies inside the zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function. Move the Perron contour from $1+1/L$ to ${\sigma }_0$. The only singularity crossed is the simple pole at $s=1$ of $-{\zeta }^{\prime }(s)/\zeta (s)$, whose residue contributes $x$.

The standard bound ${\zeta }^{\prime }(s)/\zeta (s)\ll (\log T{)}^2$ in this zero-free rectangle givesThe two horizontal sides are $\ll x(\log T{)}^2/T$, and the truncation error from part a is $\ll x{L}^2/T$. Polynomial factors in $L$ can be absorbed by slightly reducing the exponential constant. Thus some $c>0$ satisfiesThis is the Prime number theorem with classical zero-free-region error.

For $\Re s>1$, the Dirichlet series multiplication rule and $-{\zeta }^{\prime }/\zeta (s)={\sum }_{n\ge 1}\Lambda (n)n^{-s}$ giveApply an effective Perron formula on the line $\kappa =1+1/\log x$ and truncate atThe bound from part (c) controls the truncation error.

Use the classical zero-free region of the Riemann zeta functiontogether with ${\zeta }^{\prime }/\zeta (s)\ll {\log }^2(|\Im s|+3)$ there. Contour shifting moves the Perron contour to $\Re s=1-c_1/\log T$. The only crossed singularity is the double pole at $s=1$, whose residue is $x\log x+Ax$ by part (b). On the new contour,and the logarithmic-derivative bounds contribute only powers of $\log x$, which can be absorbed by reducing the positive constant in the exponential. The horizontal integrals and Perron truncation error are $O(x\exp (-c_2\sqrt{\log x}))$ as well. Therefore, for some $c>0$,

Suppose $A>0$ and every sufficiently high Nontrivial zero of the Riemann zeta function satisfies the displayed gap, with bounded heights also separated from one. The truncated explicit formula for the second Chebyshev function and the local zero count for the Riemann zeta function give errors $x{\log }^{2}x\exp (-c\log x/(\log T{)}^A)$ and $x{\log }^{2}x/T$. Balance them by $\log T\asymp (\log x{)}^{1/(A+1)}$. This explains how the width of a zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function determines the exponential scale in the Prime number theorem error.

For large positive $t$ and $0<\sigma \le 1$, a fixed sufficiently large $C$ gives the displayed upper bound; to the right of one use $|\zeta (\sigma +it)|\ll {\log }^{2/3}t$. Its nonlinear dependence on $1-\sigma$ permits a wider zero-free region of the Riemann zeta function through the Landau zero-free-region theorem. Its proof uses estimates for exponential sums; its use as an upper-bound input is separate from a proof of a zero-free region.