Multiple Dirichlet Series and Shifted Convolutions

Abstract: We define, and obtain the meromorphic continuation of, shifted Rankin-Selberg convolutions in one and two variables. As sample applications, this continuation is used to obtain estimates for single and double shifted sums and a Burgess-type bound for $L$-series associated to modular forms of arbitrary central character. Further applications are furnished by subsequent works by the authors and their colleagues.