An Arithmetic Sum Associated with the Classical Theta Function

Abstract

The sum $S(h,k):=\sum_{j=1}^{k-1}(-1)^{j+1+[hj/k]}$ appears in the modular transformation formulae of the classical theta function $\vartheta_3(z)$. The double sum $S(k) := \sum_{h=1}^{k-1}S(h,k)$ has a remarkable distribution of values. Although properties for $S(k)$ and a related sum can be established, several interesting conjectures are open.