Solutions of $x_1^2+x_2^2-x_3^2=n^2$ with small $x_3$

Abstract

Friedlander and Iwaniec investigated integral solutions $(x_1,x_2,x_3)$ of the equation $x_1^2+x_2^2-x_3^2=D$, where $D$ is square-free and satisfies the congruence condition $D\equiv 5\bmod{8}$. They obtained an asymptotic formula for solutions with $x_3\asymp M$, where $M$ is much smaller than $\sqrt{D}$. To be precise, their condition is $M\ge D^{1/2-1/1332}$. Their analysis led them to averages of certain Weyl sums. The condition of $D$ being square-free is essential in their work. We investigate the "opposite" case when $D=n^2$ is a square of an odd integer $n$. This case is different in nature and leads to sums of Kloosterman sums. We obtain an asymptotic formula for solutions with $x_3\asymp M$, where $M\ge D^{1/2-1/16+\varepsilon}$ for any fixed $\varepsilon>0$.