Intersection numbers of modular correspondences for genus zero modular curves

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Publication:2288307



Abstract: In this paper, we introduce modular polynomials for the congruence subgroup Gamma0(M) when X0(M) has genus zero and therefore the polynomials are defined by a Hauptmodul of X0(M). We show that the intersection number of two curves defined by two modular polynomials can be expressed as the sum of the numbers of mathrmSL2(mathbbZ)-equivalence classes of positive definite binary quadratic forms over mathbbZ. We also show that the intersection numbers can be also combinatorially written by Fourier coefficients of the Siegel Eisenstein series of degree 2, weight 2 with respect to mathrmSp2(mathbbZ).


Let \(j(E)\) denote the invariant of the elliptic curve \(E\) over \(\mathbb{C}\). For \(N\ge1\) define \(\Phi_N:\mathbb{C}\times\mathbb{C}\rightarrow\mathbb{C}\) by \[ \Phi_N(j(E),j(E'))=\prod_{(f,E_1')}(j(E)-j(E_1')), \] where the product ranges over the isomorphism classes of pairs \((f,E_1')\), with \(E_1'\) an elliptic curve over \(\mathbb{C}\) and \(f:E_1'\rightarrow E'\) an isogeny of degree \(N\). It is known that the function \(\Phi_N\) is given by a symmetric polynomial with coefficients in \(\mathbb{Z}\). Let \(T_N\) denote the affine plane curve defined by \(\Phi_N(X,Y)=0\). In [Math. Ann. 88, 26--52 (1922; JFM 48.1164.04)] \textit{A. Hurwitz} showed that \(T_{N_1}\) and \(T_{N_2}\) intersect properly if and only if \(N_1N_2\) is not a square. In this case he computed the intersection number \(T_{N_1}\cdot T_{N_2}\) in terms of equivalence classes of positive definite binary quadratic forms. The paper under review generalizes Hurwitz's formula by replacing the affine \(j\)-line \(Y_0(1)\) with a modular curve of the form \(Y_0(M)\) for any \(M\ge1\) for which the compactification \(X_0(M)\) has genus 0. Given such an \(M\) the author finds a parameter \(t\) on \(X_0(M)\) which is holomorphic on \(X_0(M)\smallsetminus\{\infty\}\), has a simple pole at \(\infty\) with residue 1, and whose Fourier expansion at the cusp \(\infty\) has coefficients in \(\mathbb{Z}\). For \(N\) relatively prime to \(M\) this allows him to define the modular polynomial \(\Phi_N^{\Gamma_0(M)}(X,Y)\) of level \(N\) for the congruence subgroup \(\Gamma_0(M)\), with \(t\) playing the role of \(j\) in the definition of \(\Phi_N(X,Y)\). Once again, \(\Phi_N^{\Gamma_0(M)}(X,Y)\) is a symmetric polynomial with coefficients in \(\mathbb{Z}\). Let \(T_N^{\Gamma_0(M)}\) denote the curve in \(Y_0(M)\times Y_0(M)\) defined by \(\Phi_N^{\Gamma_0(M)}(X,Y)=0\). A point on \(T_N^{\Gamma_0(M)}\) corresponds to two pairs \((E,C)\), \((E',C')\), each consisting of an elliptic curve over \(\mathbb{C}\) and a cyclic subgroup of order \(M\) such that there is an isogeny \(f:E\rightarrow E'\) of degree \(N\) with \(f(C)=C'\). Let \(N_1,N_2\) be positive integers which are relatively prime to \(M\). The author shows that \(T_{N_1}^{\Gamma_0(M)}\) and \(T_{N_2}^{\Gamma_0(M)}\) intersect properly if and only if \(N_1N_2\) is not a square. When this holds he gives a formula for the intersection number \(T_{N_1}^{\Gamma_0(M)}\cdot T_{N_2}^{\Gamma_0(M)}\) in terms of equivalence classes of positive definite binary quadratic forms. In the case where \(M\) is prime he gives a version of the intersection number formula which expresses \(T_{N_1}^{\Gamma_0(M)}\cdot T_{N_2}^{\Gamma_0(M)}\) in terms of coefficients of a Siegel Eisenstein series.











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