Period polynomials, derivatives of \(L\)-functions, and zeros of polynomials (Q2319739)

Let \(f(z)\) be a cusp form of weight \(k\) for \(\operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})\), then the polynomial \[ r_f(z) = \int_0^{\infty} f(\tau) (\tau - z)^{k-2} \mathrm{d}\tau \] is called its period polynomial, and encodes much arithmetic information about the \(L\)-function \(L(s, f)\). In particular, it serves as a ``generating function'' of the critical values of \(L(s, f)\) through the relation (see, for example, the work of [\textit{D. Zagier}, Invent. Math. 104, No. 3, 449--465 (1991; Zbl 0742.11029)]) \[ r_f(z) = \sum_{n=0}^{k-2} \binom{k-2}{n} i^{1-n} \Lambda_f(n+1) z^{k-2-n}, \] where \(\Lambda_f(s) = (2 \pi)^{-s} \Gamma(s) L(s, f)\) is the ``completed'' \(L\)-function of \(f\). In this survey paper, the authors give a brief review of the basic theory of period polynomials, especially in connection with the Eichler cohomology and with the critical values of the \(L\)-function \(L(s, f)\), and then discuss various generalizations of this theory. Their focuses are on the generalizations of period polynomials for non-cuspidal modular forms, and on the generalizations to appropriate generating functions of derivatives of the critical values of \(L(s, f)\). In particular, they study the zero distributions of these generalized period polynomials, and propose the following conjecture. \textbf{Conjecture 1.3} (``Riemann hypothesis for period polynomials attached to \(L\)-derivatives'') Let \(f(z)\) be a (not necessarily cuspidal) Hecke eigenform of weight \(k\) on \(\operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})\), and let \(m \geq 0\). Then the polynomial \[ Q_f(z) = \sum_{n=0}^{k-2} \binom{k-2}{n} i^{1-n} \Lambda_f^{(m)}(n+1) z^{k-2-n} \] has all of its zeros on the unit circle. This paper is well written and clearly organized, and the arguments are mainly from the perspective of Eichler cohomology of \(\operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb{Z})\). The results therein are stated without proofs, but often with sketches of basic ideas and motivations. In particular, this paper contains the results obtained in the authors' preprint [``Eichler cohomology and zeros of polynomials associated to derivatives of \(L\)-functions'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1704.02667}] in which, for example, the above conjecture was proved in the case of Eisenstein series.