Perspectives on the Analytic Theory of L-Functions

Abstract

To the general mathematician L-functions might appear to be an esoteric and special topic in number theory. We hope that the discussion below will convince the reader otherwise. Time and again it has turned out that the crux of a problem lies in the theory of these functions. At some level it is not entirely clear to us why L-functions should enter decisively, though in hindsight one can give reasons. Our plan is to introduce L-functions and describe the central problems connected with them. We give a sample (this is certainly not meant to be a survey) of results towards these conjectures as well as some problems that can be resolved by finessing these conjectures. We also mention briefly some of the successful present-day tools and the role they might play in the big picture.