Galois representations attached to mod \(p\) cohomology of \(GL(n,\mathbb{Z})\) (Q1187736)

This paper is devoted to a study of the cohomology of \(GL_ n(\mathbb{Z})\) (or its subgroups of finite index) with coefficients in a finite dimensional vector space over a finite field \(F\) of characteristic \(p\). The main focus is their structure as modules under the action of the Hecke algebra. When \(n=2\), it is shown by use of the theory of Eichler- Shimura (reduced \(\bmod p\)) 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 \(\ell\) is equal to the characteristic polynomial of a Frobenius element above \(\ell\) for almost all primes \(\ell\). Then the author proposes and investigates a conjecture generalizing this phenomenon, i.e. that \(p\)-torsion Hecke eigenclasses in the integral cohomology of a congruence subgroup should have attached Galois representations. A verification of this conjecture is (or will be) given (elsewhere) in some cases, e.g topological Chern or Euler classes, or special examples when \(n=3\). As a requisite, further study of torsion classes in the cohomology of arithmetic groups is needed.