A Test for the Riemann Hypothesis

Abstract

We prove that the Riemann Hypothesis holds if and only if $$I=\int_1^{+\infty}\bigl\{\Pi(x)-\Li(x)\bigr\}^2x^{-2}\,dx<+\infty$$ with $I=J$, where $J$ is some definite, computable real number ($1.266<J<1.273$). This provides us with a numerical test for the Riemann Hypothesis. The main interest of our test lies in the fact that it can also supply a \emph{goal}. Namely, having computed $J(a):=\int_1^a \bigl\{\Pi(x)-\Li(x)\bigr\}^2x^{-2}\,dx< J$ for a number of values of $a=a_n$, we can estimate a value $a$ for which, within our precision, we will have $J(a)\approx J$.