Zero-free half-planes for Hecke L-functions over number fields

Source abstract

In [Liu26a], varying the length and moment parameters in the cubic-theta argument of [Ope26a] gave the zero-free half-plane $Re(s)>B_{\mathrm{new}}=0.874957019420098946\ldots$ for finite-order Hecke $L$-functions over $\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-3})$ and for Dirichlet $L$-functions, and its optimality in the specified exponent comparison system. In this paper, we extend the argument to finite-order Hecke $L$-functions over cyclotomic fields containing $μ_{12}$ and, by class-field descent, to every pair $(K,η)$ whose cyclic class field has metabelian normal closure over $\mathbb Q$, including every finite-order character over every abelian number field. Then, adapting the averaged numerator estimate developed by Xu and Sang [XS26] for Hecke $L$-functions over $\mathbb Q(\sqrt{-3})$ and combining it with a limiting contradiction argument, we obtain the boundary $B_\flat=0.874886647039964\ldots$, the root near $0.8749$ of $133488B^4-376596B^3+384534B^2-167541B+26231$; it is the exact infimum of the refined comparison system, unattained by finite chains starting above it. Since the analytic argument uses only $μ_{12}\subset F$, we run it over $F=K(ζ_{12})$ for an arbitrary number field $K$ and descend: every finite-order Hecke $L$-function over every number field is zero-free for $Re(s)>B_\flat$. The analytic argument uses the exceptional-theta constructions and local calculations of the preprint [Ope26b].