New recurrence relations and matrix equations for arithmetic functions generated by Lambert series

Abstract

We consider relations between the pairs of sequences, $(f, g_f)$, generated by Lambert series expansions, $L_f(q) = \sum_{n \geq 1} f(n) q^n / (1-q^n)$, in $q$. In particular, we prove new forms of recurrence relations and matrix equations defining these sequences for all $n \in \mathbb{Z}^{+}$. The key ingredient to the proof of these results is given by the statement of Euler's pentagonal number theorem expanding the series for the infinite $q$-Pochhammer product, $(q; q)_{\infty}$, and for the first $n$ terms of the partial products, $(q; q)_n$, forming the denominators of the rational $n^{th}$ partial sums of $L_f(q)$. Examples of the new results given in the article include applications to the Euler phi function, $\phi(n)$, the M\obius function, $\mu(n)$, the sum of divisors functions, $\sigma_1(n)$ and $\sigma_{\alpha}(n)$, for $\alpha \geq 0$, and to Liouville's lambda function, $\lambda(n)$.