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Put $q=e^{2\pi i\tau }$ and ${\sigma }_j(n)={\sum }_{d\mid n}{d}^j$. Separate the $m=0$ terms in the lattice Eisenstein series. Differentiating the cosecant partial-fraction identity $2k-2$ times gives, for $\Im z>0$,The initial identity is ${\sum }_n(z+n{)}^{-2}={\pi }^2{\csc }^2(\pi z)=-4{\pi }^2{\sum }_{r\ge 1}r{e}^{2\pi irz}$; differentiation accounts for the factorial and the sign. Pair $m$ and $-m$ and collect the products $mr$. Absolute convergence of the lattice sum for $k\ge 2$, and local uniform convergence of the resulting power series, justify these operations. Thus the requested Fourier expansions areHere $E_{2k}=G_{2k}/(2\zeta (2k))$, and the Bernoulli numbers have convention $B_2=1/6$. The second formula uses Euler's even-value identity for the Riemann zeta function, $2\zeta (2k)=(-1{)}^{k+1}{B}_{2k}(2\pi {)}^{2k}/(2k)!$. In particular $E_4=1+240\sum {\sigma }_3(n)q^n$ and $E_6=1-504\sum {\sigma }_5(n)q^n$.

We need the rational, rather than merely complex, version of the polynomial ring of level-one modular forms. Recall how the valence formula for the modular group supplies its proof. For a nonzero weight-$w$ modular form, with $\rho =e^{2\pi i/3}$,Integrate $f^{\prime }/f$ around a truncated standard fundamental domain of the modular group, indenting around boundary zeros. The paired vertical sides cancel by translation; pair the two halves of the circular edge using $f(-1/\tau )={\tau }^{w}f(\tau )$. The logarithmic derivative of ${\tau }^w$ supplies $w/12$, while the top edge supplies $v_{\infty }(f)$. The half-disc and third-disc at the two elliptic points account for the fractions $1/2,1/3$. The argument principle then gives the formula. All orders in it are nonnegative for a holomorphic modular form. It follows that negative weights have no forms, $M_0=\mathbb{C}$, and $M_2=0$: a weight-two form vanishes at $i$, contributing at least $1/2>2/12$.

Define ${\Delta }_0=(E_4^3-E_6^2)/1728$. It is a weight-twelve cusp form and its expansion starts with $q$. The valence formula for the modular group forces its order at infinity to be exactly one and leaves no interior zeros. Thus division by ${\Delta }_0$ identifies $S_w$ with $M_{w-12}$. Every nonnegative even $w\ne 2$ has a monomial $E_4^a{E}_6^b$ of weight $w$: solve $2a+3b=w/2$, taking $b=0$ when $w/2$ is even and $b=1$ when it is odd and at least three. Subtract the constant coefficient of a modular form times such a monomial and divide by ${\Delta }_0$. Induction on weight proves generation by $E_4,E_6$.

If the original Fourier coefficients are rational, every step preserves rationality: both generators and ${\Delta }_0$ have rational expansions, and formal division by ${\Delta }_0=q+O(q^2)$ does too. This proves the rational structure of level-one modular forms. Write $E_{2k}=\sum r_{a,b}{E}_4^a{E}_6^b$ with $r_{a,b}\in \mathbb{Q}$ and $4a+6b=2k$. Rescaling givesThe Bernoulli number formula above makes each zeta ratio rational: its powers of $\pi$ cancel precisely because the weights agree. This proves the required rational coefficients for the unnormalized lattice Eisenstein sums.

Finally $S_8=S_{10}=0$ because the quotient weights are negative, and $S_{14}=0$ because $M_2=0$. In each of these weights a form is determined by its constant coefficient. The indicated monomials have that coefficient equal to one, so

The product defining the modular discriminant converges locally uniformly for $|q|<1$ and has integral Fourier coefficients. Its logarithmic derivative isTherefore $D\Delta =E_2\Delta$. Comparing the coefficient of $q^n$ gives $n\tau (n)=\tau (n)-24{\sum }_{j=1}^{n-1}{\sigma }_1(j)\tau (n-j)$, orThis also fixes the initial value $\tau (1)=1$.

For the Ramanujan tau congruence modulo five, first justify the link between this product and $E_4,E_6$. Question 1 constructs ${\Delta }_0=(E_4^3-E_6^2)/1728\in S_{12}$ with first coefficient one. Its Serre derivative is in $S_{14}$, which vanishes by the valence formula for the modular group: a nonzero such cusp form would contribute at least $1+1/2>14/12$, since it vanishes at infinity and at $i$. Hence $D{\Delta }_0=E_2{\Delta }_0$. The product and ${\Delta }_0$ have the same differential equation and leading coefficient. Equivalently their quotient has derivative zero near $q=0$ and limit one; the identity theorem givesAlso $D_6{E}_6\in M_8=\mathbb{C}{E}_4^2$. Its constant coefficient is $-1/2$, so the Serre derivative gives $2D{E}_6=E_2{E}_6-E_4^2$.

Work now in the formal power series ring ${\mathbb{F}}_5[[q]]$. The integral expansions give $E_4\equiv 1$ and $E_2\equiv E_6(\mathrm{mod}5)$, because $d^5\equiv d(\mathrm{mod}5)$, $-24\equiv -504\equiv 1$, and $240\equiv 0$. The two identities reduce toThus $3\Delta \equiv -2D{E}_6\equiv 3D{E}_6$, and division by the nonzero element $3$ gives $\Delta \equiv D{E}_6$. Since the coefficient of $q^n$ in $D{E}_6$ is $-504n{\sigma }_5(n)$, we conclude

The required anomaly cancellation depends on the exact Eisenstein series of weight two lawHere is a way to establish it without assuming that $E_2$ is a modular form. The lattice definition of the completed nonholomorphic Eisenstein series in Question 6 is modular invariant. Its Poisson summation calculation, proved there, gives the finite Laurent coefficient at $s=1$ asThe residue is constant, so $C$ is also invariant. This calculation uses only convergent Gaussian integrals and the analytic infinite product, not modularity of that product. Using the Wirtinger derivative ${\partial }_{\tau }$, with ${\partial }_{\tau }y=1/(2i)$, differentiation of the locally uniformly convergent series givesDifferentiate $C(\gamma \tau )=C(\tau )$ to see that $E_2^{\ast }=E_2-3/(\pi y)$ transforms with weight two. Substituting $\Im (\gamma \tau )=y/|j{|}^2$ yieldssince $\overline{j}-j=-2icy$. This is the weight-two transformation from an invariant Eisenstein limit.

Combine this law with the derivative transformation of a weak modular form proved in part (i). The anomalous terms in $Df-(k/12)E_{2}f$ cancel exactly, leaving the weight-$k+2$ transformation law. Both functions are holomorphic on the complex upper half-plane, and their Fourier expansions contain no negative powers. Hence the Serre derivative satisfiesIts constant coefficient is $-k{a}_0(f)/12$; it need not be a cusp form when $f$ is not cuspidal.

Extend $\chi$ by zero to integers not coprime to $N$, and write $g(\chi )={\sum }_{a\mathrm{mod}N}\chi (a)e^{2\pi ia/N}$ for its Gauss sum of a Dirichlet character. We use the analytic branch of $\sqrt{-i\tau }$ that is positive when $\tau$ is positive imaginary. With the convention $\hat{F}(t)={\int }_{\mathbb{R}}F(x)e^{-2\pi ixt}dx$, the Gaussian Fourier transform and its differentiated version areThe first formula follows by completing the square, first on the imaginary axis and then by analytic continuation; the second follows by differentiating the Fourier transform in $t$. All the functions are Schwartz functions on the real axis.

For completeness, the finite Fourier transform of a primitive Dirichlet character satisfiesFor a unit $r$ this is substitution by its inverse. If $p\mid (r,N)$, primitivity supplies a unit $u\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}N/p)$ with $\chi (u)\ne 1$: otherwise the character would factor through modulus $N/p$. Multiplication by $u$ fixes the additive exponential but multiplies the sum by $\chi (u)$, so the sum vanishes. This proves the identity also on nonunits. Finite Parseval identity now gives $|g(\chi ){|}^2=N$, since exactly $\phi (N)$ frequencies have nonzero character values. In particular this Gauss sum of a Dirichlet character is nonzero.

Apply Poisson summation to each residue class: ${\sum }_{j}F(a+Nj)=N^{-1}{\sum }_r{e}^{2\pi ira/N}\hat{F}(r/N)$. Multiply by $\chi (a)$ and sum over $a$. The formulas above give the two character theta transformationsandIn the odd case the prefactor originally reads $g(\chi )/(N^2\tau \sqrt{-i\tau })$; using $\tau =i(-i\tau )$ explains the factor $i$. Opposite parity makes the corresponding series identically zero by pairing $n,-n$. This is why the weight-three-halves series is needed for odd Dirichlet characters.

To deduce the products from these transformations, use two specific primitive Dirichlet characters. The even character ${\chi }_{12}$ takes values $1,-1,-1,1$ on $1,5,7,11$ modulo twelve. It is primitive: its values do not factor through six or four, hence through no proper divisor of twelve. Its Gauss sum of a Dirichlet character is $2\sqrt{3}=\sqrt{12}$. PutThe even transformation gives $A(-1/\tau )=\sqrt{-i\tau }A(\tau )$; also $A(\tau +1)=e^{\pi i/12}A(\tau )$, since each nonzero term has $n^2\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}24)$. Thus $A^{24}$ transforms as a weight-twelve modular form under the generators $S,T$ of the modular group. It is holomorphic and starts with $q$, so it is a normalized cusp form. The proof in Question 1 shows $S_{12}=\mathbb{C}{\Delta }_0$, giving $A^{24}={\Delta }_0$. In particular $A$ has no interior zeros, by the valence formula for the modular group.

The Serre derivative argument in Question 2 gives $D{\Delta }_0=E_2{\Delta }_0$. Hence $DA/A=E_2/24$. The analytic product $P(\tau )=q^{1/24}{\prod }_{n\ge 1}(1-q^n)$ is nonzero and has the same logarithmic derivative, since $DP/P=1/24-\sum {\sigma }_1(n)q^n$. Therefore $A/P$ is constant on the connected complex upper half-plane; its limit at infinity is one. This proves $A=P$, without assuming either of the product identities being deduced. Pair the terms $n,-n$ in $A$, choosing representatives $n=6r+1$. Since ${\chi }_{12}(6r+1)=(-1{)}^r$, we getThis is the Euler pentagonal identity, derived by the character theta proof of the eta product.

For the second product use the odd primitive character ${\chi }_4(1)=1$, ${\chi }_4(3)=-1$, with Gauss sum of a Dirichlet character $2i$. SetThe odd transformation gives $B(-1/\tau )=(-i\tau {)}^{3/2}B(\tau )$ and the series gives $B(\tau +1)=e^{\pi i/4}B(\tau )$. Thus $B^8$ is another normalized weight-twelve cusp form, and $B^8={\Delta }_0=A^{24}$. Because $A$ is nonzero, $B/A^3$ has eighth power one, so it is constant; its leading coefficient fixes it to one. Pairing positive and negative odd integers now givesSince $B=A^3=q^{1/8}{\prod }_{n\ge 1}(1-q^n{)}^3$, the Jacobi cubic product identity follows:All pairings and differentiations take place in locally uniformly convergent theta functions or products on $|q|<1$.

Write $\Gamma =S{L}_2(\mathbb{Z})$ and use the determinant-normalized slash operatorThe automorphy factor identity proves $(f{|}_k\alpha ){|}_k\beta =f{|}_k(\alpha \beta )$, and positive scalar matrices act trivially. Let ${\mathcal{M}}_n$ be all integral matrices of determinant $n>0$. It is stable under left and right multiplication by $\Gamma$. Its left orbits have unique representativesIndeed Bézout's identity reduces the first column to $(a,0)$, the determinant fixes $d=n/a$, and a row shear reduces $b$ modulo $d$. These are the determinant-n matrix representatives for Hecke operators. For composite $n$, ${\mathcal{M}}_n$ can contain more than one double coset; keeping every integral matrix, including nonprimitive ones, is essential.

Define the Hecke operator byChanging a representative on the left leaves its summand unchanged. Right multiplication by $\Gamma$ permutes left orbits of ${\mathcal{M}}_n$, so the result satisfies the weight-$k$ transformation law. Each summand is holomorphic. Its expansion at infinity is bounded, and vanishes there when $f$ is a cusp form; the group has just one cusp class. Therefore $T_n$ preserves both $M_k$ and $S_k$, and $T_1$ is the identity.

For a Fourier expansion $f={\sum }_{r\ge 0}{a}_r{q}^r$, the sum over $b$ vanishes unless $d\mid r$. Substitute $r=dt$ and then collect the coefficient of $q^m$ to obtain the Fourier coefficients of a composite-index Hecke operator:Here $\gcd (0,n)=n$, so the constant coefficient is ${\sigma }_{k-1}(n)a_0$; at $m=1$ it is $a_n$. This proves preservation of integral coefficients. At a prime,with $a_{m/p}=0$ if $p\nmid m$.

We can prove the entire Hecke multiplication relations directly, not just quote them. On formal power series put $U_p(\sum a_m{q}^m)=\sum a_{pm}{q}^m$ and $V_{p}f(q)=f(q^p)$. Although these individual operators need not preserve level one, $U_p{V}_p=1$ and the coefficient formula givesMultiply on the left by $T_p=U_p+p^{k-1}{V}_p$. In the first part the $j=0$ term is $U_p^{r+1}$; every $j\ge 1$ reduces by $U_p{V}_p=1$ to $p^{j(k-1)}{V}_p^{j-1}{U}_p^{r-j}$. The second part, together with the $j=0$ term, is $T_{p^{r+1}}$. The remaining sum is $p^{k-1}{T}_{p^{r-1}}$. ThusFor coprime indices, the coefficient divisors split independently in the displayed formula, proving $T_m{T}_n=T_{mn}$ when $(m,n)=1$. Induction with the prime-power recurrence gives $T_{p^r}{T}_{p^t}={\sum }_{j=0}^{\min (r,t)}{p}^{j(k-1)}{T}_{p^{r+t-2j}}$. Combining the primes provesIn particular the modular Hecke algebra is commutative and is generated by the prime operators.

For cusp forms the Petersson inner product isCusp decay makes it finite and positive definite. The Hecke operators are self-adjoint for the Petersson inner product. To see the change-of-variables mechanism, fix a double coset $\Gamma \alpha \Gamma \subset {\mathcal{M}}_n$ and put $H=\Gamma \cap {\alpha }^{-1}\Gamma \alpha$. Representatives $\gamma$ of $H\backslash \Gamma$ give left representatives $\alpha \gamma$. Unfolding the sum in $⟨{\sum }_{\gamma }f{|}_k\alpha \gamma ,g⟩$ changes the integral over $\Gamma \backslash \mathbb{H}$ to the integral over $H\backslash \mathbb{H}$ of $(f{|}_k\alpha )\overline{g}$. The substitution $w=\alpha \tau$ preserves $dxdy/y^2$ and has $\Im w=(\det \alpha )y/|c\tau +d{|}^2$; these factors move the slash from $f$ to $g{|}_k{\alpha }^{-1}$. Refold over $\alpha H{\alpha }^{-1}=\Gamma \cap \alpha \Gamma {\alpha }^{-1}$ to get the reverse double coset. Since scalar matrices act trivially, ${\alpha }^{-1}$ has the same slash action as its adjugate ${\alpha }^{\ast }=n{\alpha }^{-1}$, an integral matrix of determinant $n$. The adjugate involution permutes all the double cosets in ${\mathcal{M}}_n$. The common real factor $n^{k/2-1}$ is unchanged, giving $⟨T_{n}f,g⟩=⟨f,T_{n}g⟩$.

Since $S_k$ is finite dimensional, commuting self-adjoint linear operators have a common orthonormal basis of Hecke eigenforms: diagonalize one operator, restrict the others to its eigenspaces, and repeat until these spaces cannot split further. If $f$ is a nonzero common Hecke eigenform with $T_{n}f={\lambda }_{n}f$, the coefficient at $q$ gives $a_n={\lambda }_n{a}_1$. Were $a_1=0$, every positive coefficient would vanish, contrary to $f\ne 0$ being cuspidal. Normalize $a_1=1$; then ${\lambda }_n=a_n$, and the Hecke multiplication relations yieldThe eigenvalues are real by self-adjointness. Their multiplicativity and prime-power recurrence give the Euler product of a Hecke eigenform, initially in an absolutely convergent half-plane:The Mellin transform in Question 5 supplies its analytic continuation and functional equation.

Finally, for positive even $k\ge 4$, $M_k=\mathbb{C}{E}_k\oplus S_k$, by subtracting the constant coefficient times the normalized Eisenstein series. The divisor identityfollows by multiplying the geometric sums at each prime; it and the constant-coefficient formula prove $T_n{E}_k={\sigma }_{k-1}(n)E_k$. Thus $M_k$ has an Eisenstein series eigenline and a basis of cuspidal Hecke eigenforms. Odd and negative weights have no forms, $M_2=0$, and on $M_0=\mathbb{C}$ the operator is the scalar ${\sigma }_{-1}(n)$. These statements fix the normalization and describe the exceptional small weights as well.

Let $a_0$ be the constant Fourier coefficient and suppose first that $k>0$ is even and $M_k\ne 0$; thus $k\ge 4$. Put $\epsilon =i^k=(-1{)}^{k/2}$. The precise Mellin continuation of a noncuspidal modular form isIt is meromorphic on the whole plane, with possible simple poles only at $0,k$, of residues $-a_0,\epsilon a_0$, respectively. For a cusp form it is an entire function. A nonzero constant term makes both of these poles genuine.

We first justify the initial Mellin transform. Decompose $f=a_0{E}_k+h$ with $h\in S_k$. For a cusp form, $y^{k/2}|h(x+iy)|$ is invariant under the modular group and bounded on its fundamental domain, since it tends to zero at the cusp. Therefore it is bounded throughout the complex upper half-plane. Integrating the Fourier coefficient at height $y=1/n$ gives $|a_n(h)|\le C{e}^{2\pi }{n}^{k/2}$. The Eisenstein series coefficients satisfy ${\sigma }_{k-1}(n)\le \zeta (k-1)n^{k-1}$ by replacing divisors $d$ by $n/d$. Consequently $a_n(f)=O(n^{k-1})$, and absolute termwise integration is valid for $\Re s>k$:Indeed ${\int }_0^{\infty }{e}^{-2\pi ny}{y}^{s-1}dy=(2\pi n{)}^{-s}\Gamma (s)$, and the sum of the absolute integrals converges in that half-plane.

Write $I_f(s)={\int }_1^{\infty }(f(iy)-a_0)y^{s-1}dy$. Exponential cusp decay of the difference implies uniform convergence on compact subsets of the $s$-plane, including after any number of derivatives in $s$, so $I_f$ is entire. The modular transformation $f(i/y)=(iy{)}^{k}f(iy)$ givesOn the lower half of the Mellin integral, subtract the transformed constant explicitly:Substitute $y=1/t$ in the decaying term and integrate the two powers in the constant term. This yields, initially for $\Re s>k$,The right side supplies the claimed meromorphic continuation and its residues. Replacing $s$ by $k-s$ and multiplying by $\epsilon$, with ${\epsilon }^2=1$, leaves this expression unchanged, proving the functional equation with its correct sign. In particular the residue at $k$ is tied to the residue at zero by that equation; subtracting only $a_0$ at infinity and overlooking its transformed value at zero would miss these poles.

In weight zero every modular form is constant, so $L(f,s)=0$ and its completion is identically zero. The same holds for the zero form in odd, negative, or weight-two spaces. Thus the assertion covers all weights in the notation of the paper. There is no conjugation of $f$ in this level-one functional equation.

Let $\mathbb{H}$ be the upper half-plane and put $q=e^{2\pi i\tau }$. A weight-$k$ modular form for the modular group is a holomorphic function on $\mathbb{H}$ satisfyingwhose Fourier expansion at the modular cusp at infinity has only nonnegative powers of $q$. These functions form the vector space $M_k$. Its subspace $S_k$ consists of the cusp forms, whose constant Fourier coefficient is zero. For the full modular group every cusp is equivalent to infinity, so this is the complete cusp condition. The matrix $-I$ gives $M_k=0$ for odd $k$, and the valence formula for the modular group excludes nonzero forms of negative weight.

The normalized Eisenstein series start as $E_4=1+240q+O(q^2)$ and $E_6=1-504q+O(q^2)$. Consequently the modular discriminantis a nonzero cusp form of weight twelve, with order one at infinity. Its contribution there already exhausts the valence formula, so it has no zero in $\mathbb{H}$. Multiplication by $\Delta$ takes $M_k$ injectively into $S_{k+12}$. Conversely, dividing any member of $S_{k+12}$ by $\Delta$ is holomorphic in $\mathbb{H}$, has weight $k$, and has no negative power at infinity because its numerator vanishes there. Thus multiplication by the modular discriminant gives

The valence formula for the modular group shows that a weight-zero form minus its constant term must vanish: otherwise it would be a cusp form with positive order at infinity and total zero order zero. Hence $\dim M_0=1$. A weight-two form satisfies $f(i)=i^{2}f(i)=-f(i)$, so any nonzero one would contribute at least $1/2$ to the valence formula, exceeding $2/12$. Therefore $M_2=0$.

Every even integer $k\ge 4$ has a representation $k=4a+6b$ with $a,b\ge 0$. Indeed, if $k/2$ is even, take $b=0$; if it is odd, take $b=1$ and $a=(k-6)/4$. The form $R_k=E_4^a{E}_6^b$ has constant term one. Taking the constant Fourier coefficient therefore maps $M_k$ onto $\mathbb{C}$, with kernel $S_k=\Delta M_{k-12}$. Starting with the negative-weight vanishing and the two initial dimensions givesand hence the dimension of level-one modular forms isThis also proves finite dimensionality, rather than presupposing it in the recurrence.

For the generation assertion, if $f\in M_k$ has constant coefficient $a_0$, subtract $a_0{R}_k$. The difference is a cusp form, and so equals $\Delta h$ with $h\in M_{k-12}$. Induction on weight expresses $h$ as a polynomial in $E_4,E_6$; substituting the polynomial expression for $\Delta$ does the same for $f$. Constants start the induction, while weight two contributes nothing. The result is a weighted homogeneous polynomial, assigning weights four and six to its variables. In fact the monomials $E_4^a{E}_6^b$ with $4a+6b=k$ number exactly the displayed dimension: $b$ runs from zero to $\lfloor k/6\rfloor$ with parity $k/2$. Their spanning property therefore makes them a basis in each weight. This identifies the polynomial ring of level-one modular forms:

Fix an even weight $k$ and write $\Gamma =S{L}_2(\mathbb{Z})$. Extend the slash operator for modular forms to positive-determinant rational matrices by the determinant-normalized slash operatorThe automorphy factor identity makes this a right action. Let ${\mathcal{D}}_n$ be the integral matrices of determinant $n>0$. Their left $\Gamma$-cosets have unique determinant-n matrix representatives for Hecke operatorsAn integral row operation obtained from Bézout's identity makes the first column $(a,0{)}^T$, and a row shear reduces the other top entry modulo $d$, proving this description. The usual Hecke operator isThis normalization has $T_1=1$. Right multiplication by $\Gamma$ permutes the left cosets in ${\mathcal{D}}_n$, so $T_{n}f$ has the same modular transformation law as $f$. Each summand is holomorphic in $\mathbb{H}$. Holomorphy at the cusp and preservation of cusp forms follow directly from the coefficient formula below; the full modular group has only one cusp orbit. Thus the operators act on both $M_k$ and $S_k$.

If $f={\sum }_{r\ge 0}{a}_r{q}^r$, summing over $b$ kills terms unless $d\mid r$. Writing $r=d\ell$ gives output exponent $a\ell$, so a term of exponent $m$ requires $a\mid m$ and has original index $r=dm/a=nm/a^2$. Its multiplier is $n^{k-1}{d}^{1-k}=a^{k-1}$. The Fourier coefficients of a composite-index Hecke operator are consequentlyFor $m=0$, this means $a_0(T_{n}f)={\sigma }_{k-1}(n)a_0(f)$. In particular $a_1(T_{n}f)=a_n(f)$. For a prime number $p$,with a nonexistent fractional-index coefficient interpreted as zero.

The Hecke multiplication relations follow from these coefficients. For coprime indices, the two divisor choices combine uniquely and give $T_m{T}_n=T_{mn}$. For prime powers put $A=p^{k-1}$, and, on formal Fourier series, let $U_p(\sum a_m{q}^m)=\sum a_{pm}{q}^m$ and $V_p(\sum a_m{q}^m)=\sum a_m{q}^{pm}$. These individual maps need not preserve level one, but $U_p{V}_p=1$, and the coefficient formula givesMultiplying on the left by $T_p=U_p+A{V}_p$ and cancelling $U_p{V}_p$ yieldsInduction gives $T_{p^u}{T}_{p^v}={\sum }_{j=0}^{\min (u,v)}{p}^{j(k-1)}{T}_{p^{u+v-2j}}$; combining distinct prime factors provesThe modular Hecke algebra is therefore commutative and generated by its prime-index operators. The identity $U_p{V}_p=1$, rather than the generally false reversed identity, is what proves the prime-power recurrence.

On $S_k$ use the positive definite Petersson inner productExponential cusp decay makes this integral finite. The Hecke operators are self-adjoint for the Petersson inner product. Here is the correspondence argument. For a positive-determinant matrix $\alpha$, set $H=\Gamma \cap {\alpha }^{-1}\Gamma \alpha$. The finite sum over the double coset $\Gamma \alpha \Gamma$ unfolds its pairing intoChanging variables $z=\alpha \tau$ preserves hyperbolic area, and $\mathrm{Im}(\alpha \tau )=\det (\alpha )y/|c\tau +d{|}^2$ shows that the determinant-normalized slash factors transfer $\alpha$ from $f$ to ${\alpha }^{-1}$ on $g$. The new quotient is by $\alpha H{\alpha }^{-1}=\Gamma \cap \alpha \Gamma {\alpha }^{-1}$; folding it back gives the operator for the reversed double coset. For $\alpha \in {\mathcal{D}}_n$, its adjugate $n{\alpha }^{-1}$ again lies in ${\mathcal{D}}_n$. Positive scalar matrices act trivially in the determinant normalization, so ${\alpha }^{-1}$ and its adjugate give the same action. The adjugate involution preserves the entire determinant-$n$ correspondence, and the external normalization $n^{k/2-1}$ is real. Thus

Finite-dimensional spectral theory now gives a simultaneous orthonormal eigenbasis on $S_k$, since the operators commute and are self-adjoint. For a common Hecke eigenform $f$ with eigenvalues ${\lambda }_n$, the first-coefficient formula gives $a_n(f)={\lambda }_n{a}_1(f)$. If $a_1(f)=0$, every coefficient vanishes and $f=0$, a contradiction. Rescale each eigenform to have $a_1=1$. The resulting basis is orthogonal, andAll these eigenvalues and coefficients are real. A fixed simultaneous eigenspace is one-dimensional, because its normalized Fourier coefficients are uniquely determined by the eigenvalues.

Applying the multiplication relations to an eigenform givesThe recurrence yields ${\sum }_{r\ge 0}{a}_{p^r}{X}^r=(1-a_{p}X+p^{k-1}{X}^2{)}^{-1}$. Multiplicativity then gives the Euler product of a Hecke eigenforminitially in a right half-plane, for example $\mathrm{Re}s>k/2+1$ using the Fourier coefficient bound for a cusp form. Modular inversion and the Mellin transform of a cusp-form L-function continue $\Lambda (f,s)=(2\pi {)}^{-s}\Gamma (s)L(f,s)$ to an entire function and give $\Lambda (f,s)=i^k\Lambda (f,k-s)$.