The Dirichlet convolution is a binary operation defined for arithmetic functions; it is of importance in number theory.
See also:
If f and g are two arithmetic functions (i.e. functions from the positive integers to the complex numbers), one defines a new arithmetic function f * g, the Dirichlet convolution of f and g, by
- <math>
(f*g)(n) = \sum_{d|n} f(d)g(n/d)
</math>
where the sum extends over all positive
divisors d of
n.
Some general properties of this operation include:
- If both f and g are multiplicative, then so is f * g. (Note however that the convolution of two completely multiplicative functions need not be completely multiplicative.)
- f * g = g * f (commutativity)
- (f * g) * h = f * (g * h) (associativity)
- f * (g + h) = f * g + f * h (distributivity)
- f * ε = ε * f = f, where ε is the function defined by ε(n) = 1 if n = 1 and ε(n) = 0 if n > 1.
- To every multiplicative f there exists a multiplicative g such that f * g = ε.
With addition and Dirichlet convolution, the set of arithmetic functions forms a commutative ring with multiplicative identity ε, the Dirichlet ring. The units of this ring are the arithmetical functions f with f(1) ≠ 0.
Furthermore, the multiplicative functions with convolution form an abelian group with identity element ε. The article on multiplicative functions lists several convolution relations among important multiplicative functions.
If f is an arithmetic function, one defines its L-series by
- <math>
L(f,s) = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{f(n)}{n^s}
</math>
for those
complex arguments
s for which the series converges (if there are any). The multiplication of L-series is compatible with Dirichlet convolution in the following sense:
- <math>
L(f,s) L(g,s) = L(f*g,s)
</math>
for all
s for which the left hand side exists. This is akin to the
convolution theorem if one thinks of L-series as a
Fourier transform.