Real Zeros in Finite Models of the Completed Riemann Zeta Function

A Conditional de Branges Approach

Bachelor Thesis (2026)
Author(s)

M.A.M. Bus (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)

Contributor(s)

E. Lorist – Mentor (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)

Y. van Gennip – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)

Faculty
Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
More Info
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Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Graduation Date
22-06-2026
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Project
Bachelor End Project
Programme
BSc Applied Mathematics
Faculty
Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
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Abstract

The Riemann Hypothesis can be reformulated as a question about the real zeros of a recentered version of the completed Riemann zeta function. In this thesis, this function is approximated by truncated theta-kernel models obtained by cutting off both the theta kernel and the integral in its cosine-transform representation. These finite models converge locally uniformly to the recentered completed zeta function.

The main goal of the thesis is to study a conditional de Branges mechanism for these finite models. Starting from a truncated model F_{a,N}, we form E_{a,N,τ} = F_{a,N} + iτF'*{a,N}. Under the assumption that E*{a,N,τ} satisfies the Hermite–Biehler condition, one obtains a de Branges space H(E_{a,N,τ}). In this space, multiplication by the variable z is studied as a symmetric operator, and its self-adjoint extensions provide a spectral interpretation of the zeros of F_{a,N}.

The Hermite–Biehler assumption is very strong: it already forces the zeros of F_{a,N} to be real and simple. Therefore, the operator-theoretic construction should not be seen as an independent proof of the real-zero property. Its role is to place the zeros in a spectral framework. If the Hermite–Biehler condition could be proved for a cofinal sequence of truncated theta-kernel models, then local uniform convergence and Rouché’s theorem would transfer the real-zero property to the limiting completed zeta function, implying the Riemann Hypothesis.

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