Hecke operator ($T_p$)

For a prime $p$, one normalization of the weight-$k$ Hecke operator at level one isIf $f={\sum }_n{a}_n{q}^n$, thenwhere $a_{n/p}=0$ unless $p$ divides $n$.

A modular Hecke algebra is the algebra generated by Hecke operators acting on a specified space of modular forms, with level, weight and coefficient ring fixed. Its Eisenstein ideal encodes congruences with Eisenstein eigenvalues. This arithmetic algebra should not be confused with the generic Hecke algebra of a Coxeter group.

The Eisenstein ideal in a modular Hecke algebra imposes the eigenvalue relations of an Eisenstein series, such as $T_{\ell }-(1+\ell )$ in an appropriate weight-two trivial-character setting. Congruences modulo this ideal connect modular forms and class-field constructions in the Mazur-Wiles theorem. Other weights and characters require adjusted eigenvalues.

A Hecke eigenform is a nonzero modular form that is an eigenvector for every Hecke operator. A cuspidal eigenform has nonzero first Fourier coefficient: $a_1(T_{n}f)=a_n(f)$ proves this. Normalize $a_1=1$, and then $T_{n}f=a_n(f)f$. The Hecke multiplication relations give multiplicativity and the prime-power recurrence of the coefficients.

For a normalized level-one cusp form Hecke eigenform of weight $k$, fix a prime number $p$ whose local quadratic has distinct roots. Hecke multiplication relations give $b_e=x{b}_{e-1}-b_{e-2}$ for $b_e=a_{p^e}/p^{e(k-1)/2}$ and real $x=a_p/p^{(k-1)/2}$. If $|x|<2$, write $x=2\cos \theta$; then $b_e=\sin ((e+1)\theta )/\sin \theta$. Periodicity when $\theta /(2\pi )$ is rational, and density of irrational rotations otherwise, give infinitely many $b_e\ge 1/2$. If $|x|>2$, the distinct real reciprocal roots give positive unbounded even-index terms. Reality follows from Hecke operators are self-adjoint for the Petersson inner product.

For a normalized weight-$k$ cuspidal Hecke eigenform, the local recurrence gives ${\sum }_{r\ge 0}{a}_{p^r}{X}^r=(1-a_{p}X+p^{k-1}{X}^2{)}^{-1}$. Multiplicativity therefore gives $L(f,s)={\prod }_p(1-a_p{p}^{-s}+p^{k-1-2s}{)}^{-1}$ in a right half-plane. Each degree-two local factor packages all the prime-power Fourier coefficients.

The rational space of level-one cusp forms has a full lattice of forms with integral Fourier coefficients. It has finite rank by the valence formula for the modular group, and is preserved by the Fourier coefficients of a composite-index Hecke operator formula. Thus every Hecke operator has a monic integral characteristic polynomial on this lattice, and its eigenvalues are algebraic integers. The common eigenvalue field is totally real by the Petersson inner product self-adjointness.

For level-one weight-$k$ modular forms, $T_m{T}_n={\sum }_{d\mid \gcd (m,n)}{d}^{k-1}{T}_{mn/d^2}$. Thus coprime indices multiply directly, and $T_p{T}_{p^r}=T_{p^{r+1}}+p^{k-1}{T}_{p^{r-1}}$. The Fourier coefficients of a composite-index Hecke operator prove these relations by regrouping divisors. They show that the Hecke algebra of modular forms is commutative and generated by prime operators.

On a Fourier series put $U_p(\sum a_n{q}^n)=\sum a_{pn}{q}^n$ and $V_{p}f(q)=f(q^p)$. These auxiliary operators need not individually preserve the level-one modular form space. Nevertheless $U_p{V}_p=1$, and the Fourier coefficients of a composite-index Hecke operator give $T_{p^r}={\sum }_{j=0}^r{p}^{j(k-1)}{V}_p^j{U}_p^{r-j}$. Multiplication by $T_p=U_p+p^{k-1}{V}_p$, using $U_p{V}_p=1$, gives the displayed recurrence. In particular the distinction between $U_p{V}_p=1$ and $V_p{U}_p\ne 1$ is essential.

A simultaneous eigenfunction of all normalized level-one Hecke operators in positive even weight, with nonzero constant Fourier coefficient, is a multiple of the normalized Eisenstein series. The constant coefficient forces its $T_n$ eigenvalue to be ${\sigma }_{k-1}(n)$, and $a_1(T_{n}f)=a_n(f)$ forces $a_n(f)=a_1(f){\sigma }_{k-1}(n)$. Subtracting the matching constant multiple of the Eisenstein series leaves a cusp form. Unless every coefficient vanishes, its prime-index coefficients grow like $p^{k-1}$, contradicting the Fourier coefficient bound for a cusp form $O(p^{k/2})$ when $k\ge 4$. Weight two has no nonzero modular forms, by vanishing of weight-two level-one modular forms.

This is the subring generated by the Hecke operators $T_n$ and the integer scalars acting on level-one cusp forms. It preserves the lattice of cusp forms with integral Fourier coefficients of a composite-index Hecke operator. It is distinct from the generic Hecke algebra attached to a Coxeter system.

The pairing $(T,f)\mapsto a_1(Tf)$ identifies the integral Hecke algebra of level-one cusp forms with the integral dual of the cusp-form lattice. An integral basis beginning $q,q^2,\dots ,q^m$ gives a unitriangular first-$m$ coefficient matrix, so $a_1,\dots ,a_m$ form a dual basis. Commutativity of the Hecke operators proves nondegeneracy on the algebra, and $T_1,\dots ,T_m$ then form its integral basis.

For the determinant-normalized slash operator for modular forms, $T_{n}f=n^{k/2-1}{\sum }_{\gamma \in {\Pi }_n}f{|}_k\gamma$. If $f={\sum }_{r\ge 0}{a}_r{q}^r$, then $a_r(T_{n}f)={\sum }_{a\mid \gcd (n,r)}{a}^{k-1}{a}_{nr/a^2}(f)$, with $\gcd (n,0)=n$. In particular $a_1(T_{n}f)=a_n(f)$, integer coefficients are preserved, and cusp forms remain cusp forms.

Left $S{L}_2(\mathbb{Z})$-orbits of integral matrices of positive determinant $n$ have unique representatives $\left(\begin{array}{cc}a& b\\ 0& d\end{array}\right)$ with $a,d>0$, $ad=n$ and $0\le b<d$. Bezout's identity reduces the first column to $(a,0)$; a row shear reduces $b$ modulo $d$.

Let a level-one modular function be holomorphic on the upper half-plane. If the span of $f,T_{p}f,T_p^{2}f,\dots$ is finite-dimensional, then $f$ is holomorphic at infinity. Indeed, a pole of order $N$ would make $T_p^{r}f$ have pole order $p^{r}N$, producing linearly independent functions.