The Normal Distribution of ω(φ(m)) in Function Fields

Abstract

Let ω(m) be the number of distinct prime factors of m. A celebrated theorem of Erdös-Kac states that the quantity (ω(m)-loglog m)/√(loglog m) distributes normally. Let φ(m) be Euler's φ-function. Erdös and Pomerance proved that the quantity(ω(φ(m)-(1/2)(loglog m)^2)\((1/√(3)(loglog m)^(3/2)) also distributes normally. In this thesis, we prove these two results. We also prove a function field analogue of the Erdös-Pomerance Theorem in the setting of the Carlitz module.