On the quantity $I(q^k) + I(n^2)$ where $q^k n^2$ is an odd perfect number -- Part II

Abstract

In this note, we continue an approach pursued in an earlier paper of the second author and thereby attempt to produce an improved lower bound for the sum $I(q^k) + I(n^2)$, where $q^k n^2$ is an odd perfect number with special prime $q$ and $I(x)$ is the abundancy index of the positive integer $x$. In particular, this yields an upper bound for $k$.