Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2002 / iii / Paper 26 / 1

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