
For a prime k, let S_k(n) count the semiprimes kp (p prime) in the quadratic interval (n², (n+1)²), and let E_2(n) count the integers there with exactly two prime factors, counted with multiplicity. Companion papers formulated the conjectures that S_2(n), S_3(n) ≥ 1 and E_2(n) ≥ 1 for all large n, and verified them computationally to n = 10^7 and n ≈ 3.16×10^5 respectively; the pointwise statements are Legendre-class and remain open. This note proves the corresponding exceptional-set theorems. Under the Riemann Hypothesis, the number of n ≤ N with S_k(n) = 0 is O_k(log³ N), by the Selberg–Saffari–Vaughan variance bound. Unconditionally, it is O_{k,ε}(N^{53/130+ε}), where the exponent 53/130 = 0.4076... is computed from the Gafni–Tao exceptional-set bounds for the prime number theorem in short intervals, fed by the Guth–Maynard zero-density estimate and Heath-Brown's additive-energy bound A*(7/10) ≤ 235/39; thus quadratic persistence can fail only on a power-thin set. Finally, transferring the Matomäki–Teräväinen almost-all theorem for products of two primes by a sliding-window argument, we show that all but O(N / (log N)^δ) integers n ≤ N satisfy E_2(n) ≫ n / log n; in particular, almost every interval between consecutive squares contains an exact semiprime, with the conjectured density up to a factor log log n. We calibrate the three theorems against the exact computations of the companion papers.
quadratic intervals (consecutive squares), Selberg variance, Legendre's conjecture, short intervals, Gafni–Tao, exact semiprimes, exceptional set, Matomäki–Teräväinen, prime number theorem in short intervals, E₂ numbers, zero-density estimates
quadratic intervals (consecutive squares), Selberg variance, Legendre's conjecture, short intervals, Gafni–Tao, exact semiprimes, exceptional set, Matomäki–Teräväinen, prime number theorem in short intervals, E₂ numbers, zero-density estimates
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