On the approximation of the Hardy $Z$-function via high-order sections

Abstract: Sections of the Hardy $Z$-function are given by $Z_N(t) := \sum_{k=1}^{N} \frac{cos(\theta(t)-ln(k) t) }{\sqrt{k}}$ for any $N \in \mathbb{N}$. Sections approximate the Hardy $Z$-function in two ways: (a) $2Z_{\widetilde{N}(t)}(t)$ is the Hardy-Littlewood approximate functional equation (AFE) approximation for $\widetilde{N}(t) = \left [ \sqrt{\frac{t}{2 \pi}} \right ]$. (b) $Z_{N(t)}(t)$ is Spira's approximation for $N(t) = \left [\frac{t}{2} \right ]$. Spira conjectured, based on experimental observations, that, contrary to the classical approximation $(a)$, approximation (b) satisfies the Riemann Hypothesis (RH) in the sense that all of its zeros are real. We present theoretical justification for Spira's conjecture, via new techniques of acceleration of series, showing that it is essentially equivalent to RH itself.