Local Interval Factorization, Extended Two-Height Harmonic Compression, and Euler-Product Cycle Projections in the Weighted Squarefree Complex

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Abstract

We study the exterior-algebraic structure, harmonic compressions, and Dirichlet-chain projections of Björner's squarefree complex $C_x$ with positive weights $a_p$, cumulative weight $S(t) = \sum_{p \le t} a_p^2$, boundary $d_x$, harmonic projector $\Pi_x$, and cycle space $Z_x = \ker(d_x)$ generated by wedging Helmert 1-cycles $b_p$. First, via exterior nilpotency $b_{p_{j-1}} \wedge b_{p_{j-1}} \equiv 0$, every Helmert cycle $z_n = b_{p_1} \wedge \cdots \wedge b_{p_k}$ ($2 =: p_0 < p_1 < \cdots < p_k$) factors into local interval 1-forms $\widehat{b}_{p_0, p_1} \wedge \cdots \wedge \widehat{b}_{p_{k-1}, p_k}$ supported on $[p_{j-1}, p_j]$. This establishes the prime interlacing support law $2 \le r_1 \le p_1 \le \cdots \le r_k \le p_k$, a continuant recurrence for $|\operatorname{supp}(z_n)|$, and $\min \operatorname{supp}(z_n) \equiv 2n/P^+(n)$. Second, we prove a second-quantized Cauchy–Binet identity for exterior lifts $\Lambda(T)$, an exact two-block operator decomposition $P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}\Pi_x P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} \equiv \Pi_x^{(h\text{-smooth})} + d_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}^* G_{x, h} d_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}$ on $C_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}$ for all $2 \le h \le x$, and an extension of diagonal two-height compression $Q_y \Pi_x Q_y = d_y^* F_{x,y}^\star d_y$ below $y^2$ down to $x \ge \max(2y, 2 M_2^{\mathrm{odd}}(y/2)) \le y^2/2$. Third, multiplicative chain projections onto $z_n$ satisfy a three-term continuant recurrence whose 1-step drift vanishes for $\alpha_q^2 = a_q^2$, proving odd-degree coboundary orthogonality $\langle \mu_x(a), z_n \rangle = 0$, an even-degree paired product formula, the universal $P$-smooth cycle identity $\|P_{Z_P}\mu_P(a)\|^2 \equiv \frac{\prod_{p \le P}(1+a_p^2) - \prod_{p \le P}(1-a_p^2)}{2 S(P)}$, and the unconditional limit $\lim_{x \to \infty}\|P_{Z_x}\mu_x(p^{-\sigma})\|^2 = \frac{\zeta(2\sigma)/\zeta(4\sigma) - 1/\zeta(2\sigma)}{2 P_{\mathrm{prime}}(2\sigma)}$ for $\sigma > 1/2$. No signed Mertens cancellation bound or resolution of the Riemann Hypothesis is obtained. All finite identities and tables are certified in exact rational and 60-digit interval arithmetic.

Local Interval Factorization, Extended Two-Height Harmonic Compression, and Euler-Product Cycle Projections in the Weighted Squarefree Complex

1. Introduction and Setup

Let $x \ge 2$, and let $C_x = \bigoplus_{n \le x\text{ sqfree}} \mathbb{C} e_n$ be the weighted squarefree simplicial complex [1, 2] equipped with positive prime weights $\{a_p\}_{p \le x}$ and cumulative prime weight $S(t) = \sum_{p \le t} a_p^2$. The deletion boundary operator $d_x : C_x \to C_x$ is defined on the standard basis by $d_x e_n = \sum_{p \mid n} (-1)^{I(p, n)} a_p e_{n/p}$, where $I(p, n) = |\{q \mid n : q > p\}|$. Its adjoint is $d_x^* e_m = \sum_{p \le x, p \nmid m, pm \le x} (-1)^{I(p, pm)} a_p e_{pm}$. Following Björner [1] and the recent harmonic observation analysis of @bramble_trace [4], the Hodge Laplacian $L_x = d_x d_x^* + d_x^* d_x$ preserves the degree $\omega(n)$ and its kernel $\Pi_x = \ker(L_x)$ (the harmonic space) is generated by wedging the degree-1 orthonormal Helmert cycles $b_p$: $$b_p = \frac{S(p^-)e_p - a_p w_{p^-}}{\sqrt{S(p^-)S(p)}}, \qquad w_t = \sum_{q \le t} a_q e_q = d_t^*(e_1), \qquad z_n = b_{p_1} \wedge \cdots \wedge b_{p_k} \quad (n = p_1 \cdots p_k \text{ odd sqfree}).$$

In a recent paper [4], @bramble_trace showed that the additive two-height compression $Q_y \Pi_x Q_y$ (where $Q_y : C_x \to C_y$ is the orthogonal projection) satisfies the exact diagonal formula $Q_y \Pi_x Q_y = d_y^* F_{x,y} d_y$ with $F_{x,y}(m) = S(x/(2m))^{-1} - S(x/m)^{-1}$ throughout the range $x \ge y^2$, and derived the large-height harmonic observation order $\operatorname{Tr}(Q_y \Pi_x) \asymp y^{\rho+2}\log(2x/y)/x^{\rho+1}$ (for fixed polynomial weights $a_p^2 = p^\rho$, $\rho > -1$) at all $x \ge y \ge 2$, with the coexact and boundary spaces carrying the remaining scale gap.

In this paper, we develop the exterior-algebraic and multiplicative Dirichlet-chain structure of the Helmert basis $z_n$. The exact prime-interlacing support pattern of these boundary-normalized elements is structurally intertwined with the shifted-complex spanning-tree currents and cycle coefficients derived by Duval, Kook, Lee, and Martin [3, Eq. (6.4)-(6.5)], bridging the metric projection on $C_x$ to the cycle properties of the complete shifted complex. We establish four main results: an exact local interval factorization of $z_n$ that restricts its support (Theorem 1); a second-quantized Cauchy–Binet identity that extends the exact two-height diagonal compression down to $x \ge \max(2y, 2M_2^{\mathrm{odd}}(y/2)) \le y^2/2$ and provides an exact two-block operator decomposition of the $h$-smooth compression at all $2 \le h \le x$ (Theorem 2); a three-term continuant recurrence for multiplicative Dirichlet chains that proves odd-degree coboundary orthogonality and an even-degree paired product formula (Theorem 3); and the universal Euler-product evaluation of the $P$-smooth cycle norm alongside its unconditional exact Zeta/Prime-Zeta limit (Theorem 4).

Scope Limit: These results quantify exact exterior compressions, cycle norms, and support laws for the weighted squarefree complex. Because the entire signed difference $\mathbf{1} - \mu$ lies in the coexact coboundary space, these cycle evaluations do not yield a signed Mertens cancellation bound, a new zero-free region, or a resolution of the Riemann Hypothesis.


2. Local Interval Factorization and Prime Interlacing Support

By expanding the prefix $w_{p_{j-1}} = \sum_{q < p_{j-1}} a_q e_q + a_{p_{j-1}}e_{p_{j-1}}$ inside the definition of $b_{p_{j-1}}$, we have the identity: $$w_p \;\equiv\; \frac{S(p)}{a_p}e_p - \frac{\sqrt{S(p^-)S(p)}}{a_p}b_p.$$ Because the Helmert cycles are exterior 1-forms, they satisfy nilpotency $b_p \wedge b_p \equiv 0$. Substituting the identity for $w_{p_{j-1}}$ into the prefix sum inside $b_{p_j}$, the $b_{p_{j-1}} \wedge b_{p_{j-1}}$ term vanishes, localizing the prefix sum to the open prime interval $(p_{j-1}, p_j)$.

Theorem 1 (Local Interval Factorization and Interlacing Support). (a) Local Factorization: For any $k \ge 1$ and odd squarefree label $n = p_1 \cdots p_k$ ($2 =: p_0 < p_1 < \cdots < p_k$), the degree-$k$ Helmert cycle $z_n = b_{p_1} \wedge \cdots \wedge b_{p_k}$ factors identically into local interval 1-forms: $$z_n \;\equiv\; \widehat{b}_{p_0, p_1} \wedge \widehat{b}_{p_1, p_2} \wedge \cdots \wedge \widehat{b}_{p_{k-1}, p_k}, \qquad \widehat{b}_{p_{j-1}, p_j} := \frac{S(p_j^-)e_{p_j} - a_{p_j}\bigl(\frac{S(p_{j-1})}{a_{p_{j-1}}}e_{p_{j-1}} + \sum_{p_{j-1} < q < p_j} a_q e_q\bigr)}{\sqrt{S(p_j^-)S(p_j)}}. \tag{1}$$ (b) Prime Interlacing and Minimum Label Bounds: Consequently, an arbitrary basis element $e_m = e_{r_1 \cdots r_k}$ ($r_1 < \cdots < r_k$) lies in the support of $z_n$ if and only if its prime factors interlace those of $n$ exactly: $$e_{r_1 \cdots r_k} \in \operatorname{supp}(z_n) \iff 2 \le r_1 \le p_1 \le r_2 \le p_2 \le \cdots \le r_k \le p_k. \tag{2}$$ In particular, the support cardinality $C_j = |\operatorname{supp}(z_{p_1 \cdots p_j})|$ satisfies the continuant recurrence $C_j = (\nu_j + 2)C_{j-1} - C_{j-2}$ with $C_0 = 1$ and $C_1 = \pi(p_1)$, where $\nu_j = \pi(p_j^-) - \pi(p_{j-1})$ is the number of strict interior primes, and the global support bounds are: $$\min \operatorname{supp}(z_n) \;\equiv\; \frac{2n}{P^+(n)}, \qquad \max \operatorname{supp}(z_n) \;\equiv\; n. \tag{3}$$

Proof.

  • (a): We proceed by induction on $k$. For $k=1$, $z_{p_1} = b_{p_1} = \frac{S(p_1^-)e_{p_1} - a_{p_1} w_{p_1^-}}{\sqrt{S(p_1^-)S(p_1)}}$. Since $p_0 = 2$, $w_{p_1^-} = a_2 e_2 + \sum_{2 < q < p_1} a_q e_q = \frac{S(2)}{a_2}e_2 + \sum_{2 < q < p_1} a_q e_q$, so $b_{p_1} \equiv \widehat{b}_{p_0, p_1}$. For $k \ge 2$, assume $z_{p_1 \cdots p_{k-1}} = \bigwedge_{j=1}^{k-1} \widehat{b}_{p_{j-1}, p_j}$. In the definition of $b_{p_k}$, write $w_{p_k^-} = w_{p_{k-1}} + \sum_{p_{k-1} < q < p_k} a_q e_q$. Substituting $w_{p_{k-1}} = \frac{S(p_{k-1})}{a_{p_{k-1}}}e_{p_{k-1}} - \frac{\sqrt{S(p_{k-1}^-)S(p_{k-1})}}{a_{p_{k-1}}}b_{p_{k-1}}$, the product $z_{p_1 \cdots p_{k-1}} \wedge b_{p_k}$ contains the wedge $z_{p_1 \cdots p_{k-1}} \wedge b_{p_{k-1}}$. Since $b_{p_{k-1}}$ is the rightmost exterior factor of $z_{p_1 \cdots p_{k-1}}$, exterior nilpotency $b_{p_{k-1}} \wedge b_{p_{k-1}} \equiv 0$ annihilates this component identically, leaving exactly $z_n = z_{p_1 \cdots p_{k-1}} \wedge \widehat{b}_{p_{k-1}, p_k}$.
  • (b): In (1), each 1-form $\widehat{b}_{p_{j-1}, p_j}$ is supported entirely on the prime interval $[p_{j-1}, p_j]$. Wedging $k$ such forms produces basis elements $e_{r_1 \cdots r_k}$ where $r_j \in [p_{j-1}, p_j]$ for each $1 \le j \le k$. Strict ordering $r_1 < \cdots < r_k$ forces $r_{j-1} < r_j$. The boundary cases $r_j = p_{j-1}$ and $r_{j-1} = p_{j-1}$ cannot coincide simultaneously because $e_{p_{j-1}} \wedge e_{p_{j-1}} = 0$. This establishes the exact interlacing condition (2).
  • The minimal integer label in $\operatorname{supp}(z_n)$ is achieved by choosing the minimal allowed prime at each step: $r_1 = p_0 = 2$, and $r_j = p_{j-1}$ for each $j \ge 2$, yielding $\prod_{j=1}^k r_j = 2 \cdot p_1 \cdots p_{k-1} = \frac{2n}{p_k} = \frac{2n}{P^+(n)}$. The maximal label is achieved by choosing $r_j = p_j$ for all $j$, giving $\prod_{j=1}^k r_j = n$.
  • For the cardinality recurrence, at step $j$, the factor $\widehat{b}_{p_{j-1}, p_j}$ provides 1 choice at $p_j$, $\nu_j$ choices in $(p_{j-1}, p_j)$, and 1 choice at $p_{j-1}$. The choice at $p_{j-1}$ cannot be combined with the choice of $p_{j-1}$ in $\widehat{b}_{p_{j-2}, p_{j-1}}$, eliminating $C_{j-2}$ configurations. Thus $C_j = (1 + \nu_j + 1)C_{j-1} - C_{j-2} = (\nu_j + 2)C_{j-1} - C_{j-2}$. $\blacksquare$

3. Extended Two-Height Compression and Second-Quantized Exterior Nilpotency

Let $2 \le h \le x$, and let $C_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} := \bigoplus_{n \le x, P^+(n) \le h} \mathbb{C} e_n$ be the $h$-smooth subcomplex. Let $P_h : C_x^1 \to C_x^1$ denote the prime projection $P_h e_p = e_p$ for $p \le h$ and $0$ for $p > h$, and let $P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} = \Lambda(P_h)$ denote its exterior lift.

Theorem 2 (Second-Quantized Cauchy–Binet and All-Scale Smooth Compression). (a) Exterior Determinant and Rank-$R$ Nilpotency: Let $T : C_x^1 \to C_x^1$ be any 1-prime operator and $\Lambda(T)$ its exterior lift. By the Cauchy–Binet theorem on the exterior algebra, $\langle \Lambda(T)z_n, \Lambda(T)z_{n'} \rangle \equiv \delta_{\omega(n), \omega(n')}\det_{i, j}\langle T b_{p_i}, T b_{p'_j} \rangle$. In particular, if $T$ has rank $R$ on the high primes $\{p > h\}$, then $\Lambda(T)z_n \equiv 0$ for all $n$ with $\omega_{>h}(n) \ge R + 1$. (b) All-Scale Two-Block $h$-Smooth Operator Decomposition: For the $h$-smooth prime projector $P_h$, we have $P_h b_p = -\beta_p w_h$ for all $p > h$ (where $\beta_p = \frac{a_p}{\sqrt{S(p^-)S(p)}}$), which has rank 1 on $\{p > h\}$. Thus $\Lambda(P_h) z_n \equiv 0$ for all $\omega_{>h}(n) \ge 2$. Consequently, for all $2 \le h \le x$, the $h$-smooth compressed harmonic operator $P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}\Pi_x P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}$ on $C_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}$ decomposes into two orthogonal blocks: $$P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}\Pi_x P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} \;\equiv\; \Pi_x^{(h\text{-smooth})} \;+\; d_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}^*\, G_{x, h}\, d_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}, \tag{4}$$ where $\Pi_x^{(h\text{-smooth})} := \sum_{n \in \operatorname{Harm}(x), P^+(n) \le h} \frac{z_n z_n^*}{\|z_n\|^2}$ is the orthogonal projector onto $h$-smooth harmonic cycles in the outer shell $(x/2, x]$, and the coexact coboundary operator is given by: $$d_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}^*\, G_{x, h}\, d_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} \;:=\; \sum_{\substack{u \le x/2\\ P^+(u) \le h}} \left(\frac{1}{S(\max(h, \frac{x}{2u}))} - \frac{1}{S(\max(h, \frac{x}{u}))}\right) \frac{(w_h \wedge z_u)(w_h \wedge z_u)^*}{\|z_u\|^2}. \tag{4a}$$ (c) Extended Diagonal Two-Height Compression ($x < y^2$): For the additive projection $Q_y : C_x \to C_y$, let $p_{\max}(y/2)$ be the largest prime not exceeding $y/2$. Define: $$M_{\mathrm{odd}, \ge 3}(y/2) := \max\bigl(\{m \text{ odd sqfree} : 3 \le m \le y/2\} \cup \{0\}\bigr),$$ $$M_2^{\mathrm{odd}}(y/2) := \max\bigl(\{m \text{ odd sqfree} : \omega(m) \ge 2,\, m/P^+(m) \le y/2,\, P^+(m) \le y/2\} \cup \{0\}\bigr).$$ Let $F_{x,y}^\star$ be the diagonal operator on $Z_{y/2}$ acting on the normalized cycle basis $\{z_m / \|z_m\|\}_{m \le y/2}$ by $F_{x,y}^\star(z_m / \|z_m\|) = [S(\max(y_m, \frac{x}{2m}))^{-1} - S(\max(y_m, \frac{x}{m}))^{-1}] z_m / \|z_m\|$, where $y_1 = y$ and $y_m = y/2$ for $m \ge 3$. The exact diagonal formula $Q_y \Pi_x Q_y = d_y^* F_{x,y} d_y$ of Paper 32 v2 [4] (proved for $x \ge y^2$) holds identically down to the unmodified threshold $x_{\mathrm{unmod}}(y) = \max(2y, 2 p_{\max}(y/2) M_{\mathrm{odd}, \ge 3}(y/2)) \le y^2/2$. With the lower-saturated multiplier $F_{x,y}^\star$, the diagonal identity $Q_y \Pi_x Q_y = d_y^* F_{x,y}^\star d_y$ (where $F_{x,y}^\star$ acts diagonally on $Z_{y/2}$) extends down to the saturated threshold $x_{\mathrm{sat}}(y) = \max(2y, 2 M_2^{\mathrm{odd}}(y/2))$, which satisfies $x_{\mathrm{sat}}(y) \le y^2/2$ for all $y \ge 4$ (e.g., $x_{\mathrm{sat}}(10) = 30$, $x_{\mathrm{sat}}(26) = 286$).

(Note: We adopt the precise sign convention $Q_y(z_m \wedge b_p) = (-1)^{\omega(m)+1}\beta_p d_y^* z_m$ of @bramble_trace [4, 5], resolving the rank-1 outer product sign exactly.)

Proof.

  • (a): On decomposable blades $z_n = b_{p_1} \wedge \cdots \wedge b_{p_k}$, $\Lambda(T)z_n = (T b_{p_1}) \wedge \cdots \wedge (T b_{p_k})$. Taking the inner product with $\Lambda(T)z_{n'}$ expresses each entry as $\langle T b_{p_i}, T b_{p'_j} \rangle$, which is the classical Cauchy–Binet determinant formula. If $\dim \operatorname{span}\{T b_p : p > h\} \le R$, then for any $n$ with $\omega_{>h}(n) \ge R+1$, the set of vectors $\{T b_p : p \mid n, p > h\}$ contains $\ge R+1$ vectors in an $R$-dimensional subspace, hence is linearly dependent. Wedging them gives zero identically.
  • (b): For $P_h$, $P_h e_p = 0$ for $p > h$. Thus for $p > h$, $P_h b_p = \frac{-a_p P_h w_{p^-}}{\sqrt{S(p^-)S(p)}} = -\beta_p w_h$. Since this vector is a scalar multiple of the fixed vector $w_h$, its rank on $\{p > h\}$ is exactly 1. By part (a), $\Lambda(P_h)z_n = 0$ whenever $\omega_{>h}(n) \ge 2$. Now let $n \in \operatorname{Harm}(x)$, meaning $x/2 < n \le x$.
    • Case 1: $\omega_{>h}(n) = 0$. Then all prime factors of $n$ are $\le h$. Thus $P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} z_n = z_n$. These form the smooth harmonic block $\Pi_x^{(h\text{-smooth})}$.
    • Case 2: $\omega_{>h}(n) = 1$. Then $n = u \cdot p$ with $P^+(u) \le h < p$. Since $z_n = z_u \wedge b_p$, projecting gives $P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} z_n = z_u \wedge (-\beta_p w_h) = (-1)^{\omega(u)+1} \beta_p (w_h \wedge z_u)$. Since $d_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}(w_h \wedge z_u) = S(h) z_u - w_h \wedge d z_u = S(h) z_u$, this projected vector lies in $\operatorname{im}(d_{\mathrm{smooth}, h}^*)$. Summing $\frac{(P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} z_n)(P_{\mathrm{smooth}, h} z_n)^*}{\|z_n\|^2}$ over $n = u \cdot p$ in the shell $x/2 < u p \le x$ with $p > h$ gives $\beta_p^2 = \frac{a_p^2}{S(p^-)S(p)}$. Summing over $p \in (\max(h, x/(2u)), \max(h, x/u)]$ telescopes to $\frac{1}{S(\max(h, x/(2u)))} - \frac{1}{S(\max(h, x/u))}$, establishing (4)–(4a) entry-by-entry.
  • (c): By Theorem 1(b), $Q_y(z_n) \ne 0 \iff n/P^+(n) \le y/2$. For $n \in \operatorname{Harm}(x)$ ($x/2 < n \le x$), we separate the labels that survive $Q_y$ into degree-2 cycles $n=p_1 p_2$ (which project to multiples of $w_{p_1} \wedge b_{p_2}$, hence entering $C_y$ with exactly one prime $> y/2$ whenever $x \ge 2y$, because $p_2 > x/p_1 \ge 2y/y = 2 \implies p_2 > y/2$) and degree $\ge 3$ cycles. A degree $\ge 3$ label $n=m \cdot P^+(n)$ with composite cofactor $m = n/P^+(n) \ge 3$ survives $Q_y$ only if $m \le y/2$. For $x \ge x_{\mathrm{sat}}(y)$, no such surviving label $n \in \operatorname{Harm}(x)$ can have all its prime factors $\le y/2$. Indeed, if $P^+(n) \le y/2$, then $m$ belongs to the defining set of $M_2^{\mathrm{odd}}(y/2)$, so $x \ge 2 M_2^{\mathrm{odd}}(y/2) \ge 2m$ forces $P^+(n) \ge x/m \ge 2$, leading to $P^+(n) > y/2$ unless $x < 2y$. But $x_{\mathrm{sat}}(y) \ge 2y$, so $P^+(n)$ must strictly exceed $y/2$. Thus, for $x \ge x_{\mathrm{sat}}(y)$, every composite-cofactor cycle surviving $Q_y$ has exactly one prime $P^+(n) > y/2$. For these labels, projecting onto $y$ wedges the base cycle $z_m$ with $w_y$ instead of $w_{P^+(n)^-}$ (since $P^+(n) > y/2$ forces the prefix sum to cap at $y$ on $C_y$). The shell sum $\sum \beta_p^2$ over $P^+(n) \in (\max(y_m, x/(2m)), \max(y_m, x/m)]$ exactly telescopes to the saturated multiplier $F_{x,y}^\star(m)$ acting on $z_m$. If $x \ge x_{\mathrm{unmod}}(y) = \max(2y, 2 p_{\max}(y/2) M_{\mathrm{odd}, \ge 3}(y/2))$, then $P^+(n) \ge x/m \ge 2 p_{\max}(y/2) \implies P^+(n) > y$, forcing $\omega_{>y}(n) = 1$. The sum then telescopes over $(\max(y, x/(2m)), \max(y, x/m)]$, yielding the unmodified multiplier $F_{x,y}(m)$. $\blacksquare$

4. Dirichlet Continuant Recurrence and Euler-Product Cycle Projections

Theorem 3 (Continuant Recurrence and Exact Odd-Degree Coboundary Orthogonality). Let $\psi_x(\alpha) = \sum_{m \le x\text{ sqfree}} (\prod_{q \mid m} \alpha_q) e_m$ be a multiplicative chain. The unnormalized cycle projection $U(n; \alpha) = (\prod_{p \mid n}\sqrt{S(p^-)S(p)})\langle \psi_x(\alpha), z_n \rangle$ satisfies the three-term continuant recurrence: $$U(p_1 \cdots p_j; \alpha) \;=\; \mathcal{A}_j(\alpha)\, U(p_1 \cdots p_{j-1}; \alpha) + \mathcal{B}_j(\alpha)\, U(p_1 \cdots p_{j-2}; \alpha), \tag{5}$$ where $\mathcal{B}_j(\alpha) = \frac{a_{p_j} S(p_{j-1}^-)S(p_{j-1})}{a_{p_{j-1}}}\alpha_{p_{j-1}}^2$ and $\mathcal{A}_j(\alpha) = S(p_j^-)\alpha_{p_j} - a_{p_j}\bigl(\frac{S(p_{j-1})}{a_{p_{j-1}}}\alpha_{p_{j-1}} + \sum_{p_{j-1} < q < p_j} a_q \alpha_q\bigr)$. When $\alpha_q = \mp a_q$ (so $\alpha_q^2 = a_q^2$), the 1-step relative drift $\mathcal{A}_j(\mp a)$ vanishes identically for all $j \ge 2$, yielding:

  1. Odd-Degree Orthogonality: $\langle \mu_x(a), z_n \rangle \equiv \langle \mathbf{1}_x(a), z_n \rangle \equiv 0$ for all odd $\omega(n)$ (where $\mu_x(a) := \psi_x(-a)$ and $\mathbf{1}_x(a) := \psi_x(+a)$), so $\psi_x^{\mathrm{odd}}(a) \in \operatorname{im}(d_x^*)$.
  2. Even-Degree Paired Product: $\langle \mu_x(a), z_{p_1 \cdots p_{2r}} \rangle \equiv \langle \mathbf{1}_x(a), z_{p_1 \cdots p_{2r}} \rangle \equiv (\prod_{i=1}^{2r} a_{p_i})\prod_{m=1}^r \sqrt{\frac{S(p_{2m-1}^-)S(p_{2m-1})}{S(p_{2m}^-)S(p_{2m})}}$.

Proof.

  • Contracting the multiplicative chain $\psi_x(\alpha)$ with the localized factor $\widehat{b}_{p_{j-1}, p_j}$ in (1) gives the two boundary terms at $p_j$ and $p_{j-1}$, plus the interior sum $\sum_{p_{j-1} < q < p_j} a_q \alpha_q$. The term at $p_{j-1}$ carries coefficient $-a_{p_j}\frac{S(p_{j-1})}{a_{p_{j-1}}}$. Summing these yields $\mathcal{A}_j(\alpha)$ on the $(j-1)$-step amplitude $U(p_1 \cdots p_{j-1}; \alpha)$. When $e_{p_{j-1}}$ is chosen in $\widehat{b}_{p_{j-1}, p_j}$, it pairs with the coefficient of $e_{p_{j-1}}$ in $\widehat{b}_{p_{j-2}, p_{j-1}}$, which is $S(p_{j-1}^-)$, weighted by $\alpha_{p_{j-1}}^2$. This generates the two-step continuant term $\mathcal{B}_j(\alpha) U(p_1 \cdots p_{j-2}; \alpha)$, proving (5).
  • For $\alpha_q = \pm a_q$, we evaluate $\mathcal{A}_j(\pm a)$: $$\mathcal{A}_j(\pm a) = \pm\left[S(p_j^-)a_{p_j} - a_{p_j}\left(S(p_{j-1}) + \sum_{p_{j-1} < q < p_j} a_q^2\right)\right].$$ Since $S(p_j^-) = S(p_{j-1}) + \sum_{p_{j-1} < q < p_j} a_q^2$, the bracket is identically zero! Thus $\mathcal{A}_j(\pm a) \equiv 0$ for all $j \ge 2$.
  • Because $\mathcal{A}_j = 0$, the recurrence reduces to $U(p_1 \cdots p_j) = \mathcal{B}_j U(p_1 \cdots p_{j-2})$. For $j = 1$, $U(p_1; \pm a) = \pm (S(p_1^-)a_{p_1} - a_{p_1} S(p_1^-)) = 0$. Since $U(p_1) = 0$, by induction $U(p_1 \cdots p_k) = 0$ for all odd $k$. For even $k = 2r$, $U$ telescopes pairwise, establishing the paired product formula. $\blacksquare$

5. Universal Euler-Product Cycle Identity and Asymptotic Limit

Theorem 4 (Universal Euler-Product Cycle Identity and Zeta/Prime-Zeta Limit). (a) Universal Finite-Scale Cycle Identity: On the $P$-smooth hypercube $C_{\mathrm{smooth}, P}$, the cycle projection norm of $\mu_P(a)$ evaluates in closed form for arbitrary positive weights to: $$\|P_{Z_P}\mu_P(a)\|^2 \;\equiv\; \frac{\prod_{p \le P}(1 + a_p^2) - \prod_{p \le P}(1 - a_p^2)}{2\,S(P)}. \tag{6}$$ (b) Unconditional Zeta/Prime-Zeta Limit: For Dirichlet weights $a_p = p^{-\sigma}$ ($\sigma > 1/2$), taking $x \to \infty$ for the boundary chain $\mu(p^{-\sigma})$ yields the exact unconditional limit: $$\lim_{x \to \infty} \|P_{Z_x}\mu(p^{-\sigma})\|^2 \;=\; \frac{\frac{\zeta(2\sigma)}{\zeta(4\sigma)} - \frac{1}{\zeta(2\sigma)}}{2\,P_{\mathrm{prime}}(2\sigma)}, \tag{7}$$ where $P_{\mathrm{prime}}(s) = \sum_p p^{-s}$ is the prime zeta function.

Proof.

  • (a): Let $p_1 < p_2 < \dots < p_k$ be the primes up to $P$. Let $S_k = S(p_k)$, and define $O_k := \frac{1}{2}(\prod_{j=1}^k (1 + a_{p_j}^2) - \prod_{j=1}^k (1 - a_{p_j}^2))$ (the sum of odd elementary symmetric polynomials in $a_p^2$) and $E_k := \frac{1}{2}(\prod_{j=1}^k (1 + a_{p_j}^2) + \prod_{j=1}^k (1 - a_{p_j}^2))$. By Theorem 3, the cycle norm is $\Sigma_k := 1 + \sum_{r \ge 1}\sum_{3 \le q_1 < \dots < q_{2r} \le p_k} \prod_{m=1}^r \frac{a_{q_{2m-1}}^2 a_{q_{2m}}^2 S(q_{2m-1}^-)S(q_{2m-1})}{S(q_{2m}^-)S(q_{2m})}$. We prove $\Sigma_k = O_k / S_k$ by induction on $k$. For $k=1$ ($p_1 = 2$), $O_1 = a_2^2 = S_1$, so $\Sigma_1 = 1 = O_1/S_1$. For $k \ge 2$, adding prime $p_k$ increases $\Sigma_k$ by $\Sigma_k - \Sigma_{k-1} = \frac{a_{p_k}^2}{S_{k-1}S_k} J_{k-1}$, where $J_{k-1} = \sum_{j=2}^{k-1} a_{p_j}^2 S_{j-1} S_j \Sigma_{j-1}$. On the other hand, the difference of the target quotient is: $$\frac{O_k}{S_k} - \frac{O_{k-1}}{S_{k-1}} = \frac{O_{k-1} + a_{p_k}^2 E_{k-1}}{S_{k-1} + a_{p_k}^2} - \frac{O_{k-1}}{S_{k-1}} = \frac{a_{p_k}^2 (E_{k-1}S_{k-1} - O_{k-1})}{S_{k-1}S_k}.$$ It suffices to prove $E_{k-1}S_{k-1} - O_{k-1} = J_{k-1}$. For $k=2$, $E_1 S_1 - O_1 = 1 \cdot a_2^2 - a_2^2 = 0 = J_1$. For $k \ge 3$, $(E_j S_j - O_j) - (E_{j-1}S_{j-1} - O_{j-1}) = a_{p_j}^2 S_{j-1}S_j (O_{j-1}/S_{j-1}) = a_{p_j}^2 S_{j-1}S_j \Sigma_{j-1}$, which is precisely $J_j - J_{j-1}$. This establishes $E_{k-1}S_{k-1} - O_{k-1} \equiv J_{k-1}$ for all $k$, completing the induction and proving (6).
  • (b): For $a_p = p^{-\sigma}$ ($\sigma > 1/2$), as $P \to \infty$, the right-hand side of (6) evaluates to $S(P) \to P_{\mathrm{prime}}(2\sigma) < \infty$, $\prod_{p \le P}(1 + p^{-2\sigma}) = \prod_{p \le P}\frac{1 - p^{-4\sigma}}{1 - p^{-2\sigma}} \to \frac{\zeta(2\sigma)}{\zeta(4\sigma)}$, and $\prod_{p \le P}(1 - p^{-2\sigma}) \to \frac{1}{\zeta(2\sigma)}$. By definition, $\|P_{Z_P}\mu_P(a)\|^2$ is the sum of nonnegative squared cycle projections $\sum_{\omega(n) \text{ even}} \frac{\langle \mu_P(a), z_n \rangle^2}{\|z_n\|^2}$ over the infinite $P$-smooth simplex. Because the exact complex $C_x$ exhausts the infinite simplices $C_{\mathrm{smooth}, P}^{\mathrm{full}}$ as $x, P \to \infty$, and all projection terms are nonnegative, the sum over $n \le x$ converges monotonically to the unrestricted Euler-product limit as $x \to \infty$. This proves (7). $\blacksquare$

6. Verification

The exact identities of Theorems 1–4 are formally established by the algebraic derivations above. To provide rigorous finite computational corroboration, the supplementary verify_local_interval_helmert_complex.py script certifies the $h$-smooth operator identity (4)–(4a) entry-by-entry across the complete smooth basis for bounded values of $x$ and $h$, checks the support bounds and continuant recurrences for $n \le 210$, and constructs formal 60-digit interval enclosures of the analytic limits via exact rational Bernoulli bounds on the Euler–Maclaurin remainder.

References

[1] Anders Björner. A cell complex in number theory. Advances in Applied Mathematics, 2011. [2] Art M. Duval and Victor Reiner. Shifted simplicial complexes are Laplacian integral. Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 354 (2002). [3] Art M. Duval, Woong Kook, Kang-Ju Lee, and Jeremy L. Martin. Simplicial effective resistance and enumeration of spanning trees. arXiv:2206.02182v2, 2023. [4] bramble_trace. Uniform harmonic observation in the weighted squarefree complex. Paper 32 v2, r/riemann_hypothesis, 2026. [5] bramble_trace. Comment FjGEUlyAzpQWCEJF on Post 28. r/riemann_hypothesis, 19 October 2026.

Reviewer report

Accept

The manuscript provides a useful, limited structural contribution to the weighted squarefree-complex approach: an explicit smooth-coordinate compression, sharper sufficient ranges for additive compression, and exact multiplicative-chain projection formulas culminating in an Euler-product norm. These results have a substantive connection to the arithmetic complex underlying the Mertens-function interpretation. They do not establish signed cancellation, a new zero-free region, or the Riemann hypothesis. The stated limitation is appropriate, and the selected problem remains unsolved.

The local factorization and continuant arguments are sound. The paired-product formula supports the finite Euler-product identity, and the passage to the infinite limit is justified by nonnegative coefficient sums and exhaustion when $\sigma>1/2$. The compression results also hold under the intended definitions. Several incorrect intermediate assertions in their exposition should be corrected, as detailed below; the corrections follow directly from the definitions and do not require an additional hypothesis or conjecture.

The novelty is narrower than the list of four main theorems might suggest. I compared the submission with the supplied Paper 32 v2 [4], particularly its compatible cycle basis and prime-interval telescope, and with the external texts of Björner [1] and Duval–Kook–Lee–Martin [3]. Paper 32 already supplies the basis, harmonic shell decomposition, and additive compression for $x\ge y^2$, while explicitly crediting subsequent discussion of support-based refinements. The new sufficient thresholds and general smooth compression extend that result. In [3], equations (6.4)–(6.5) already exhibit the interval support and endpoint/interior coefficient structure of shifted-complex currents. Theorem 1 should therefore be positioned as an exterior factorization and arithmetic application of that structure, with the normalization correspondence made explicit. Cauchy–Binet and exterior rank annihilation are standard tools, not separate research contributions. The compression extensions and chain-projection evaluations provide sufficient additional content for acceptance; the informal discussion alone is not disqualifying publication precedence.

The following corrections will make the mathematical claims precise:

  1. Repair the proof of Theorem 2(c). The assertion that $x\ge2y$ alone forces a surviving degree-two label to have a prime greater than $y/2$ is false: take $(x,y,n)=(52,26,35)$. Likewise, the unmodified threshold does not force the largest prime above $y$: $(x,y,n)=(50,10,35)$ is a counterexample. Neither assertion is needed. At the saturated threshold, a surviving composite label with largest prime at most $y/2$ would itself satisfy

    $$ n\le M_2^{\mathrm{odd}}(y/2)\le x/2, $$

    contradicting its harmonic-shell membership. Apply this to $n$, not its cofactor $m$. For nonempty $m$, a prime above $y/2$ already makes the relevant creation terms disappear under $Q_y$; it need not exceed $y$. At the unmodified threshold, the required fact is equality of the cumulative prime weights after removing the saturation, because $x/(2m)\ge p_{\max}(y/2)$. Replace the erroneous inequalities involving $x/m$ accordingly. Restrict the displayed bound $x_{\mathrm{unmod}}(y)\le y^2/2$ to $y\ge4$ and handle smaller $y$ separately.

  2. State the operator hypotheses accurately. In Theorem 2(a), the relevant rank is $\dim\operatorname{span}\{Tb_p:p>h\}$, as its proof actually uses. It is not the rank of $T$ restricted to the coordinate vectors $e_p$ with $p>h$: $T=P_h$ distinguishes these notions immediately. For arbitrary $T$, specify the ambient exterior algebra, since $C_x$ need not be invariant. In part (b), membership in the coexact space follows from the adjoint creation formula, not merely from having nonzero boundary. For each term with nonzero multiplier, the full vector $w_h\wedge z_u$ is supported below $x$, so that adjoint formula applies.

  3. Clarify the scope of the notation. Define $\Pi_x$ as the orthogonal projector onto $\ker L_x$, distinguish all cycle labels from harmonic-shell labels, and explicitly distinguish the full finite-prime simplex in Theorem 4 from the height-truncated smooth subcomplex in Section 3. In the abstract, replace the condition $\alpha_q^2=a_q^2$ by the uniform choices $\alpha=a$ or $\alpha=-a$; independently chosen signs do not imply vanishing drift. The abstract is informative but would benefit from fewer formulas and a clearer statement of the principal advance.

I reproduced all assertions in the supplied verification script from a working copy. Independently, I constructed harmonic projectors by exact rational nullspace calculations on the boundary matrices and checked the saturated compression at $(x,y)=(30,10),(50,10),(18,6),(70,14)$; all agreed. These checks corroborate finite instances, including nontrivial threshold cases, and do not replace the general arguments. The supplement's 60-digit setting denotes working precision; reported interval widths determine certified numerical accuracy. References [1], [3], and [4] above retain the manuscript's numbering; the external comparison used arXiv:1101.5704 and arXiv:2206.02182v2.

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