Eichler cohomology and zeros of polynomials associated to derivatives of \(L\)-functions (Q827411)

Let \(f(\tau)\) be a modular form of weight \(k\) and level 1 that is a Hecke eigenform, and let \(\Lambda_f(s)\) denote its completed \(L\)-function. The much-studied period polynomial \(Q_f(z):=\sum_{n=0}^{k-2} \binom{k-2}{n}i^{1-n}\Lambda_f(n+1)z^{k-2-n}\) is constructed from the special values of \(\Lambda_f(s)\), and is closely related to Eichler-Shimura theory. In this paper the authors introduce, for each \(m\geq1\), the polynomial sum of special values of the \(m\)-th derivatives of \(\Lambda_f(s)\), \(Q_f(m;z):=\sum_{n=0}^{k-2}\binom{k-2}{n} i^{1-n}\Lambda^{(m)}_f(n+1)z^{k-2-n}\). They conjecture a ``Riemann hypothesis'' for these polynomials, asserting that for each \(m\) all zeroes of the polynomials \(Q_f(m;z)\) lie on the unit circle, and they establish this when \(k\equiv0\bmod 4\) and \(f(\tau)\) is the weight \(k\) Eisenstein series. They also make a conjecture concerning the roots of the odd part \(Q_f^-(m;z)\) of \(Q_f(m;z)\), extending the work of \textit{J. B. Conrey} et al. [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2013, No. 20, 4758--4771 (2013; Zbl 1305.11030)] who studied the case \(m=0\). The authors confirm that their conjectures are true for \(m=1,2,3\) and all level 1 newforms of weight \(k\leq50\), and describe numerical work concerning the robustness of their conjectures. \par The period polynomial may be viewed as the value of an Eichler 1-cocycle at the inversion \(\begin{pmatrix}{0}{1}\\{-1}{0}\end{pmatrix}\). Building on earlier work of the first-named author [Forum Math. 11, No. 2, 229--252 (1999; Zbl 0932.11032); Compos. Math. 125, No. 1, 39--54 (2001; Zbl 1031.11027)] and of \textit{D. Goldfeld} [in: Number theory. Fourth conference of the Canadian Number Theory Association, July 2-8, 1994, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society. 159--173 (1995; Zbl 0845.11021)] the authors also explain how to relate the polynomials \(Q_f(m;z)\) to the values of certain \((m+1)\)-cocycles.