Vanishing Fourier coefficients of Hecke eigenforms (Q832474)

A well-known question of Lehmer asks whether \(\tau(n) = 0\) for some \(n \in \mathbb{N}\), where \(\Delta = q \prod_{n=1}^\infty (1 - q^n)^{24} = \sum_{n=1}^\infty \tau(n) q^n\) is the classical cusp form of level \(1\) and weight \(12\). This paper answers a vertical analogue of Lehmer's problem. Let \(N\) be a positive integer and \(p > 2\) a prime coprime to \(N\). It is shown that there are only finitely many Hecke eigenforms \(f\) of level \(\Gamma_1(N)\) and any even weight \(k\) such that \(a_p(f) = 0\). Such forms can arise for instance from Hecke eigenforms with complex multiplication from an imaginary quadratic field in which \(p\) is inert or from elliptic curves which are supersingular at \(p\). By a theorem of Jochnowitz, there are only finitely many irreducible modular residual representations of level \(N\) if \(p\) is coprime to \(N\). The method of proof first establishes a description of the reduction of \(\rho_f\) locally at \(p\) assuming \(a_p(f) = 0\) and argues on a fixed residual representation. A deformation ring \(R\) is then constructed which parametrizes the eigenforms \(f\) of level \(\Gamma_1(N)\) with \(a_p(f) = 0\) and having the fixed residual representation. On the assumption that there are infinitely many Hecke eigenforms of level \(\Gamma_1(N)\) with \(a_p(f) = 0\) with the fixed residual representation, the ring \(R/\mathfrak{P}\) is shown to have the property that the CM points are dense and not dense, where \(\mathfrak{P}\) is a fixed minimal ideal.