Bounded Exponential Sums with Multiplicative Coefficients

Abstract

We investigate when the exponential sum $S_f(x,α) := \sum_{n\le x}f(n)\mathrm{e}(nα)$ is bounded, for a multiplicative function $f$ and $α\in\mathbb{R}$. We show that under natural assumptions, $S_f(x,α)$ is bounded only when $f$ is very close to a twisted Dirichlet character $χ(n)n^{it}$. We obtain sharper classification results for functions that are completely multiplicative or take only finitely many values, including a complete classification in the case when $f$ is completely multiplicative and $α$ is irrational. We also prove a stronger classification under the assumption that the sum is bounded for a positive measure set of $α$.