Random Matrix Theory and the Fourier Coefficients of Half-Integral Weight Forms

Conjectured links between the distribution of values taken by the characteristic polynomials of random orthogonal matrices and that for certain families of L-functions at the centre of the critical strip are used to motivate a series of conjectures concerning the value-distribution of the Fourier coefficients of half-integral weight modular forms related to these L-functions. Our conjectures may be viewed as being analogous to the Sato-Tate conjecture for integral weight modular forms. Numerical evidence is presented in support of them.