Smooth numbers in simultaneous arithmetic progressions

Abstract

We prove a mean value theorem on the distribution of smooth numbers in two simultaneous arithmetic progressions, with generalizing a result of Drappeau. Let $\varepsilon>0$ and $(\log x)^C<y<x^{1/C}$ for a sufficiently large $C$. Our result implies that $y$-smooth numbers are well-distributed in the residue classes of a fixed integer $a$ on average over moduli $\leq x^{5/9-\varepsilon}$ for each $|a|\leq x$, which improves Drappeau&#39;s range $\leq x^{6/11-\varepsilon}$. As an application, we show that a positive proportion of $y$-smooth numbers $n\leq x$ satisfy $\min(P^+(n-1), P^+(n+1))>x^{407/720}$.