The many faces of the stochastic zeta function

Abstract

We introduce a framework to study the random entire function $ζ_β$ whose zeros are given by the Sine$_β$ process, the bulk limit of beta ensembles. We present several equivalent characterizations, including an explicit power series representation built from Brownian motion. We study related distributions using stochastic differential equations. Our function is a uniform limit of characteristic polynomials in the circular beta ensemble; we give upper bounds on the rate of convergence. Most of our results are new even for classical values of $β$. We provide explicit moment formulas for $ζ$ and its variants, and we show that the Borodin-Strahov moment formulas hold for all $β$ both in the limit and for circular beta ensembles. We show a uniqueness theorem for $ζ$ in the Cartwright class, and deduce some product identities between conjugate values of $β$. The proofs rely on the structure of the Sine$_β$ operator to express $ζ$ in terms of a regularized determinant.