The Alternative Hypothesis for Zeros of the Riemann Zeta-Function

Abstract: In 2016, the first-named author introduced a formulation of the Alternative Hypothesis that assumes that consecutive zeros of the Riemann zeta-function are spaced at multiples of half of the average spacing, but does not assume that the zeros are simple. In this paper, we assume the Riemann Hypothesis and a similar formulation of the Alternative Hypothesis, and for each integer $k$ we obtain constraints on the density of pairs of zeros whose normalized differences are at $k/2$ times the average spacing. These constraints, in turn, restrict the density of (possible) multiple zeros. We also formulate a stronger version of the Alternative Hypothesis and show that it implies the Essential Simplicity Hypothesis.