Galois representations and Hecke operators associated with the \(\text{mod-}p\) cohomology of \(GL(m(p-1),\mathbb{Z})\) (Q1127713)

Let \(\Gamma\) be a finite index subgroup of \(GL_n (\mathbb{Z})\), and let \(V\) be a \(\Gamma\)-module of characteristic \(p\), i.e. \(V\) is a finite-dimensional vector space over a finite field \(F\) of characteristic \(p\) and \(\Gamma\) acts linearly. Then the cohomology groups \(H^\bullet (\Gamma,V)\) are acted upon by the Hecke algebra. In the case \(n=2\), it can be shown by means of the theory of Eichler and Shimura that one can attach to a Hecke eigenvalue a representation of the absolute Galois group of \(\mathbb{Q}\) into \(GL_2 (F)\) such that the Hecke polynomial at a prime \(l\) equals the characteristic polynomial of the Frobenius at \(l\) for almost all \(l\). In [Duke Math. J. 65, No. 2, 235-255 (1992; Zbl 0774.11024)], \textit{A. Ash} proposed a conjecture generalizing this phenomenon to all \(n\). In the paper under review this conjecture is proven for \(n=m (p-1)\) and some additional technical assumptions. This proof is based on the work of the second author on \(\text{mod }p\) cohomology.