$ell^p$-improving inequalities for Discrete Spherical Averages

Let $ lambda ^2 in mathbb N $, and in dimensions $ dgeq 5$, let $ A_{lambda } f (x)$ denote the average of $ f ;:; mathbb Z ^{d} to mathbb R $ over the lattice points on the sphere of radius $lambda$ centered at $x$. We prove $ ell ^{p}$ improving properties of $ A_{lambda }$. begin{equation*} lVert A_{lambda }rVert_{ell ^{p} to ell ^{p}} leq C_{d,p, omega (lambda ^2 )} lambda ^{d ( 1-frac{2}p)}, qquad tfrac{d-1}{d+1} < p leq frac{d} {d-2}. end{equation*} It holds in dimension $ d =4$ for odd $ lambda ^2 $. The dependence is in terms of $ omega (lambda ^2 )$, the number of distinct prime factors of $ lambda ^2 $. These inequalities are discre