The mean values of cubic L-functions over function fields

Abstract

We obtain an asymptotic formula for the mean value of L-functions associated to cubic characters over F_q[t]. We solve this problem in the non-Kummer setting when q=2 (mod 3) and in the Kummer case when q=1 (mod 3). The proofs rely on obtaining precise asymptotics for averages of cubic Gauss sums over function fields, which can be studied using the theory of metaplectic Eisenstein series. In the non-Kummer setting we display some explicit cancellation between the main term and the dual term coming from the approximate functional equation of the L-functions.