Let Γ\Gamma be a finite-index subgroup of and k≥0k\ge0 an integer. A holomorphic modular form of weight kk for Γ\Gamma, with trivial character, is a function ff on H={z∈C:Im⁡z>0}\mathcal H=\{z\in\mathbb C:\operatorname{Im}z>0\} such that

f ⁣(az+bcz+d)=(cz+d)kf(z)((abcd)∈Γ),f\!\left(\frac{az+b}{cz+d}\right)=(cz+d)^kf(z) \quad\left(\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}\in\Gamma\right),

and ff is holomorphic at every cusp. Explicitly, for every γ=(abcd)∈SL⁡2(Z)\gamma=\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}\in\operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb Z),

(f∣kγ)(z)=(cz+d)−kf(γz)(f|_k\gamma)(z)=(cz+d)^{-k}f(\gamma z)

has a convergent expansion ∑n≥0ane2πinz/h\sum_{n\ge0}a_n e^{2\pi inz/h} near infinity, for some positive integer period hh. This is the cusp condition at γ∞\gamma\infty.

Notation

The space is Mk(Γ)M_k(\Gamma). Requiring zero constant coefficient at every cusp defines the subspace of . A common group is

Γ0(N)={(abcd)∈SL⁡2(Z):N∣c}.\Gamma_0(N)=\left\{\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}\in\operatorname{SL}_2(\mathbb Z):N\mid c\right\}.

If −I∈Γ-I\in\Gamma and kk is odd, the transformation law forces f=0f=0.

References
  1. Andrew V. Sutherland, 18.786 Number Theory II, Spring 2024, Lecture 6, Definitions 6.1–6.5 and the cusp expansions on pp. 1–2.