Basis for $M_k(\Gamma(N))$ with Fourier coeffs in $\mathbb{Z}[\Zeta_N]$?

2012-02-06T14:52:49Z

Hi all.

Recently i read that the space of completely holomorphic (also at the cusps) modular forms $M_k(\Gamma(N))$ possesses a basis having Fourier coefficients in $\mathbb{Z}[\zeta_N]$ where $\zeta_N = e^{2 \pi i / N}$.

Can somebody point out a reference for this?

I already know the following things: At least for $k \geq 2$, $S_k(\Gamma(N))$ -- the subspace of cusp forms -- possesses a basis having Fourier coefficients in $\mathbb{Z}$ (see Shimura, Thm 3.52). What is missing is the Eisenstein series $G^{v}$ (see Diamond/Shurman, Thm 4.2.3). All the Fourier coiefficients except the first one do indeed lie inside $\mathbb{Z}[\zeta_N]$ (up to a constant in $\mathbb{Q}$) but the constant term of the Eienstein series is (in the case that $v_1 \equiv 0 \mod N$) the term

$\sum_{n \in \mathbb{Z} \setminus \{0\}, n \equiv v_1 \mod N} \frac{1}{n^k}$

This is the Hurwitz Zeta Function up to the term $N^{-k}$. The question here is: is this value in $\mathbb{Z}[\zeta_N]$ (up to some denominator) or is there a completely different way to see that such a basis with Fourier coeffs in $\mathbb{Z}[\zeta_N]$ exists?

Note that i am aware of this post: http://mathoverflow.net/questions/78043/is-there-a-miller-basis-for-m-kn but i was not able to locate the result in these books.

best and thanks!

Fabian Werner

Answer by François Brunault for Basis for $M_k(\Gamma(N))$ with Fourier coeffs in $\mathbb{Z}[\Zeta_N]$?

2012-02-07T11:12:54Z

The constant term of the Eisenstein series $G_k^{0,v}$ in Diamond-Shurman is, up to a factor $N^k$, given by

$$\zeta(k,\frac{v}{N}) + (-1)^k \zeta(k,-\frac{v}{N})$$

where $\zeta(s,x) = \sum_{\substack{n \in \mathbf{Q}_{>0}, \ n \equiv x \mod{1}}} \frac{1}{n^s}$ is the Hurwitz zeta function.

You can prove by hand that this constant term indeed lies in $\pi^k \cdot \mathbf{Q}(\zeta_N)$. This is a tedious exercise (which I admit I haven't done) using the functional equation of the Hurwitz zeta function linking $\zeta(s,\cdot)$ and $\zeta(1-s,\cdot)$ and the fact that $\zeta(1-k,x) \in \mathbf{Q}[x]$ for any $k \geq 1$ (it is given by a Bernoulli polynomial). For these two facts see for example Wikipedia.

The more conceptual explanation is that $\Gamma(N) \backslash (\mathcal{H} \cup \mathbf{P}^1(\mathbf{Q}))$ admits a canonical model $X(N)$ defined over $\mathbf{Q}(\zeta_N)$ (see Shimura, Introduction to the arithmetic theory of automorphic functions, Chapter 6). Moreover, there is a more conceptual definition of Eisenstein series of weight $k$ as sections of $\mathcal{L}^{\otimes k}$, where $\mathcal{L}$ is a certain line bundle on $X(N)$ (defined using the universal elliptic curve over $Y(N)$). Since the cusps of $X(N)$ are rational over $\mathbf{Q}(\zeta_N)$, the Fourier coefficients of these Eisenstein series belong automatically to $\mathbf{Q}(\zeta_N)$. It then suffices to check that these Eisenstein series coincide with $G_k^{0,v}$ (suitably divided by $(2\pi i)^k$). One reference I know for this point of view is Kato, $p$-adic Hodge theory and values of zeta functions of modular forms, Astérisque 295, section 3.

Basis for $M_k(\Gamma(N))$ with Fourier coeffs in $\mathbb{Z}[\Zeta_N]$? - MathOverflow

Basis for $M_k(\Gamma(N))$ with Fourier coeffs in $\mathbb{Z}[\Zeta_N]$?

Answer by François Brunault for Basis for $M_k(\Gamma(N))$ with Fourier coeffs in $\mathbb{Z}[\Zeta_N]$?