A dynamical approach to Maass cusp forms (Q1940228)

Let \(\Gamma \subset \mathrm{PSL}(2,\mathbb{R})\) be a nonuniform cofinite Fuchsian group satisfying an additional mild geometric condition. (The usual examples like \(\mathrm{PSL}(2,\mathbb{Z})\), Hecke triangle groups or various congruence subgroups satisfy this additional condition.) The author starts with the geodesic flow on the surface \(\Gamma \backslash \mathbb{H}\) and presents an explicitly constructed discretization. The construction of an explicit family of transfer operators associated to the discrete dynamical system follows. These constructions are carefully done and presented in great detail. The author then proves the theorem stated below by relating eigenfunctions of the constructed transfer operator with eigenvalue 1 to period functions introduced in e.g. [\textit{D.\ Zagier} and \textit{J.\ Lewis}, Ann.\ Math.\ (2) 153, No.\ 1, 191--258 (2001; Zbl 1058.11544)]. Theorem A. Let \(s \in \mathbb{C}\), \(0 < \text{Re}(s) < 1\). Then the space of Maass cusp forms for \(\Gamma\) with eigenvalue \(s(1-s)\) is isomorphic to the space of sufficiently regular \(1\)-eigenfunctions of the transfer operator with parameter \(s\).