Rational period functions on the Hecke groups (Q1601122)

Rational period functions (RPFs) have received the attention of a number of mathematicians since the reviewer first discussed them in [Duke Math. J. 45, 47-62 (1978; Zbl 0374.10014)]. The notion of RPF arises in a natural generalization of modular form: Suppose \(f\) is holomorphic in \(\text{Im }z>0\) and has the transformation properties \[ f(z+1)=f(z),\quad z^{-2k} f(-1/z)=f(z)+q(z),\tag{*} \] with \(k\in \mathbb{Z}\) and \(g(z)\) a rational function. If, further, \(f(z)\) has a left-finite expansion in the variable \(\text{exp}(2\pi iz)\) (at the cusp \(i\infty\)), then we call \(f\) a modular integral of weight \(2k\), with RPF \(q(z)\), on the modular group \(\text{SL}(2,\mathbb{Z})\). \textit{A. Ash} [Am. J. Math. 111, 35-51 (1989; Zbl 0664.10014)] gave an abstract characterization of RPFs on \(\text{SL}(2,\mathbb{Z})\), and this was followed by an explicit characterization given, independently, by \textit{Y. J. Choie} and \textit{D. Zagier} [Contemp. Math. 143, 89-109 (1993; Zbl 0790.11044)] and \textit{L. A. Parson} [Contemp. Math. 143, 109-116 (1993; Zbl 0790.11045)]. The author points out that others (Schmidt, Sheingorn) ``have taken steps toward an explicit characterization of RPFs on the Hecke groups''. In Theorem 2 of the article under under review Culp-Ressler gives ``an explicit characterization of a class of RPFs on the Hecke groups. [This] characterization is for RPFs for which \(k\) (half of the weight) is odd and whose irreducible pole sets'' have a certain symmetry property. The author's Theorem 1 gives an explicit expression for any RPF on a Hecke group, but as yet he has not determined when this expression yields a bona fide RPF.