Arithmetic and analytic properties of finite field hypergeometric functions

The intent of this thesis is to provide a detailed study of the arithmetic and analytic properties of Gaussian (finite field) hypergeometric series. We present expressions for the number of F,-points on certain families of varieties as special values of these functions. We also present "hypergeometric trace formulas" for the traces of Hecke operators on spaces of cusp forms of levels 3 and 9. These formulas lead to a simple expression for the Fourier coefficients of r(3z)', the unique normalized cusp form of weight 4 and level 9. We then use this to show that a certain threefold is "modular" in the sense that the number of its F,-points is expressible in terms of these coefficients. In this way, we use Gaussian hypergeometric series as a tool for connecting arithmetic and analytic objects. We also discuss congruence relations between Gaussian and truncated classical hypergeometric series. In particular, we use hypergeometric transformation identities to express the pth Fourier coefficient of the unique newform of level 16 and weight 4 as a special value of a Gaussian hypergeometric series, when p =1 (mod 4). We then use this to prove a special case of Rodriguez-Villegas' supercongruence conjectures.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mathematics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Lennon, Catherine (Catherine Ann)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Benjamin Brubaker.

• Mathematics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/67791

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/67791