Square-Annular Dynamics and Coalescence Frontiers for $n+\tau(n)$

Mathematics > Number Theory [Submitted on 16 Jun 2026] Title:Square-Annular Dynamics and Coalescence Frontiers for $n+τ(n)$ View PDF HTML (experimental)Abstract:Let $T(n)=n+\tau(n)$, where $\tau$ is the divisor function. We study the Erdos-Graham coalescence problem by encoding finite-level obstructions in the divisor-successor graph and in square-annular transfer maps. Coalescence is equivalent both to connectedness of this graph and to synchronization along an infinite non-autonomous sequence of finite annular systems. The basic identities are \[ \operatorname{im}(\mathcal A_k)=E_{k+1}, \qquad \mathcal F_{k^2}=k^2+E_k, \] where $E_k$ is the set of square-crossing overshoots from below $k^2$. We prove a transfer parity law, dynamic frontier bounds for the widths $W_{k,s}$, and the criterion that $\liminf_k|\mathcal A_k(E_k)|=1$ would imply connectedness. Unconditionally, \[ R(X)\le \log X+2\gamma+O(X^{-1/4}), \] and the exit sets are residue-universal, satisfy $|E_k|\le k^{o(1)}$, and obey \[ \frac94K+O(1)\le \sum_{k\le K}|E_k|\ll K(\log K)^3. \] Using the shifted-square estimate HST, obtained from the corrected Henriot--Nair--Tenenbaum theorem in the specialized form of Proposition 8.4 and from separate square-shift estimates, we obtain fixed-moment bounds \[ \sum_{k\le K}|E_k|^m\ll_m K(\log K)^{C_m}\quad(m\ge2). \] A further first-moment refinement to $K(\log K)^2$ is conditional on the additional, currently unproved, uniform quadratic Euler-product mean-value hypothesis HQE. We also prove quantitative large-jump and lower-runner race theorems, isolate interval filling, and formulate a square-gated two-branch criterion. No proof of the full Erdos-Graham problem is claimed. Current browse context: math.NT References & Citations Loading... Bibliographic and Citation Tools Bibliographic Explorer (What is the Explorer?) Connected Papers (What is Connected Papers?) Litmaps (What is Litmaps?) scite Smart Citations (What are Smart Citations?) Code, Data and Media Associated with this Article alphaXiv (What is alphaXiv?) CatalyzeX Code Finder for Papers (What is CatalyzeX?) DagsHub (What is DagsHub?) Gotit.pub (What is GotitPub?) Hugging Face (What is Huggingface?) ScienceCast (What is ScienceCast?) Demos Recommenders and Search Tools Influence Flower (What are Influence Flowers?) CORE Recommender (What is CORE?) arXivLabs: experimental projects with community collaborators arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website. Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them. Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs.