The distribution of the summatory function of the Möbius function

Abstract

Let the summatory function of the Möbius function be denoted $M(x)$. We deduce in this article conditional results concerning $M(x)$ assuming the Riemann Hypothesis and a conjecture of Gonek and Hejhal on the negative moments of the Riemann zeta function. The main results shown are that the weak Mertens conjecture and the existence of a limiting distribution of $e^{-y/2}M(e^{y})$ are consequences of the aforementioned conjectures. By probabilistic techniques, we present an argument that suggests $M(x)$ grows as large positive and large negative as a constant times $\pm \sqrt{x} (\log \log \log x)^{5/4}$ infinitely often, thus providing evidence for an unpublished conjecture of Gonek's.