# Relation between arithmetic functions and modular forms

Generating functions of many multiplicative arithmetic functions of longstanding interest (e.g., sum-of-divisors function, number-of-partitions function) turn out to be Fourier expansions of modular forms.

Is this true of all multiplicative arithmetic functions? If $$\gamma : \mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$$ is a multiplicative arithmetic function (i.e., $$\gamma(n m) = \gamma (n) \gamma (m)$$ whenever $$n$$ and $$m$$ are relatively prime), is the formal sum $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty \gamma(n) q^n$$ (related to) Fourier expansion of some modular/automorphic form?

A different way of putting the question is: is there a direct relation between the multiplicative property of arithmetic functions and the symmetry of modular/automorphic forms under the action of associated modular/reductive group, or is it the case that some arithmetic functions just happen to have modular forms as generating functions without there being any larger conceptual relationship between the two?

If a (non-zero) cusp form $$f$$ is a simultaneous eigenform of all Hecke operators $$T_m$$ with eigenvalues $$\lambda_m$$ then $$a_m = \lambda_m a_1$$ and $$a_1\ne 0$$. Hecke eigenforms are normalized so that $$a_1=1,$$ then $$T_m f=a_m f,\quad a_m a_n = \sum_{r>0,r|(m,n)} r^{k-1}a_{nm/r^2}, \; m,n\ge 1.$$
In such a case, if $$(n,m)=1$$ then $$a_ma_n=a_{nm}$$ which implies that $$a_n$$ is multiplicative. Futhermore, the function $$a_n$$ satisifies the stronger property as given in the equation when $$(n,m)>1.$$