Slash operator for modular forms (${|}_k$)

For $\gamma =\left(\begin{array}{cc}a& b\\ c& d\end{array}\right)$, the weight-$k$ slash operator isA modular form of weight $k$ and level $\Gamma$ satisfies $f{|}_k\gamma =f$ for every $\gamma \in \Gamma$.

Decompose $A\alpha B={\coprod }_{j}A{\alpha }_j$ for finite-index congruence subgroups $A,B$. The sum is independent of representative choices because $f$ is invariant under $A$. Right multiplication by $B$ permutes these left cosets, so the sum is invariant under $B$. Each summand is holomorphic in the half-plane; cusp holomorphy under rational slash operators proves holomorphy at every new cusp. The same reasoning preserves vanishing at cusps. With the Hecke-normalized rational slash operator, no extra scalar is needed in the defining sum.

For a rational matrix of positive determinant, this slash normalization differs from the determinant-normalized slash operator by $(\det \alpha {)}^{k/2-1}$. Both are right actions, by the automorphy factor identity. For a positive scalar $t$, the displayed action of $tI$ is multiplication by $t^{k-2}$. On determinant-one matrices it agrees with the ordinary slash operator for modular forms. This normalization makes a good-prime Hecke operator a plain sum over its double-coset representatives.

For a rational matrix $\gamma$ of positive determinant, use the positive real power of $\det \gamma$ in the displayed slash operator for modular forms. It satisfies $(f{|}_k\gamma ){|}_k\eta =f{|}_k(\gamma \eta )$ by the automorphy factor identity and multiplicativity of the determinant. It agrees with the usual operator on the modular group. The determinant factor is essential for the stated normalization of the Hecke operators.

For $\gamma =\left(\begin{array}{cc}a& b\\ c& d\end{array}\right)$, the automorphy factor is $j(\gamma ,\tau )=c\tau +d$. It obeys the cocycle identity