In mathematics, the modular lambda function λ(τ) is a highly symmetric Holomorphic function on the complex upper half-plane. It is invariant under the fractional linear action of the congruence group Γ(2), and generates the function field of the corresponding quotient, i.e., it is a Hauptmodul for the modular curve X(2). Over any point τ, its value can be described as a cross ratio of the branch points of a ramified double cover of the projective line by the elliptic curve, where the map is defined as the quotient by the [−1] involution. The q-expansion, where is the nome, is given by: By symmetrizing the lambda function under the canonical action of the symmetric group S3 on X(2), and then normalizing suitably, one obtains a function on the upper half-plane that is invariant under the full modular group, and it is in fact Klein's modular j-invariant.

Modular properties

The function is invariant under the group generated by The generators of the modular group act by Consequently, the action of the modular group on is that of the anharmonic group, giving the six values of the cross-ratio:

Relations to other functions

It is the square of the elliptic modulus, that is,. In terms of the Dedekind eta function \eta(\tau) and theta functions, and, where In terms of the half-periods of Weierstrass's elliptic functions, let be a fundamental pair of periods with. we have Since the three half-period values are distinct, this shows that \lambda does not take the value 0 or 1. The relation to the j-invariant is which is the j-invariant of the elliptic curve of Legendre form Given, let where K is the complete elliptic integral of the first kind with parameter m=k^2. Then

Modular equations

The modular equation of degree p (where p is a prime number) is an algebraic equation in and. If and, the modular equations of degrees p=2,3,5,7 are, respectively, The quantity v (and hence u) can be thought of as a holomorphic function on the upper half-plane : Since, the modular equations can be used to give algebraic values of \lambda(pi) for any prime p. The algebraic values of \lambda(ni) are also given by where is the lemniscate sine and \varpi is the lemniscate constant.

Lambda-star

Definition and computation of lambda-star

The function (where ) gives the value of the elliptic modulus k, for which the complete elliptic integral of the first kind K(k) and its complementary counterpart are related by following expression: The values of can be computed as follows: The functions \lambda^* and \lambda are related to each other in this way:

Properties of lambda-star

Every \lambda^* value of a positive rational number is a positive algebraic number: and (the complete elliptic integral of the second kind) can be expressed in closed form in terms of the gamma function for any, as Selberg and Chowla proved in 1949. The following expression is valid for all : where is the Jacobi elliptic function delta amplitudinis with modulus k. By knowing one \lambda^* value, this formula can be used to compute related \lambda^* values: where and is the Jacobi elliptic function sinus amplitudinis with modulus k. Further relations: Lambda-star values of integer numbers of 4n-3-type: Lambda-star values of integer numbers of 4n-2-type: Lambda-star values of integer numbers of 4n-1-type: Lambda-star values of integer numbers of 4n-type: Lambda-star values of rational fractions:

Ramanujan's class invariants

Ramanujan's class invariants G_n and g_n are defined as where. For such n, the class invariants are algebraic numbers. For example Identities with the class invariants include The class invariants are very closely related to the Weber modular functions and. These are the relations between lambda-star and the class invariants:

Other appearances

Little Picard theorem

The lambda function is used in the original proof of the Little Picard theorem, that an entire non-constant function on the complex plane cannot omit more than one value. This theorem was proved by Picard in 1879. Suppose if possible that f is entire and does not take the values 0 and 1. Since λ is holomorphic, it has a local holomorphic inverse ω defined away from 0,1,∞. Consider the function z → ω(f(z)). By the Monodromy theorem this is holomorphic and maps the complex plane C to the upper half plane. From this it is easy to construct a holomorphic function from C to the unit disc, which by Liouville's theorem must be constant.

Moonshine

The function is the normalized Hauptmodul for the group \Gamma_0(4), and its q-expansion, where , is the graded character of any element in conjugacy class 4C of the monster group acting on the monster vertex algebra.

Footnotes

Other