Random Matrix Theory and L-Functions at s= 1/2

Recent results of Katz and Sarnak [8, 9] suggest that the low-lying zeros of families of L-functions display the statistics of the eigenvalues of one of the compact groups of matrices U(N), O(N) or USp(2N). We here explore the link between the value distributions of the L-functions within these families at the central point s= 1/2 and those of the characteristic polynomials Z(U,θ) of matrices U with respect to averages over SO(2N) and USp(2N) at the corresponding point θ= 0, using techniques previously developed for U(N) in [10]. For any matrix size N we find exact expressions for the moments of Z(U,0) for each ensemble, and hence calculate the asymptotic (large N) value distributions for Z(U,0) and log Z(U,0). The asymptotic results for the integer moments agree precisely with the few corresponding values known for L-functions. The value distributions suggest consequences for the non-vanishing of L-functions at the central point. Received: 1 February 2000 / Accepted: 24 March 2000