Regularity of quotients of Drinfeld modular schemes

Abstract

Let $A$ be the coordinate ring of a projective smooth curve over a finite field minus a closed point. For a nontrivial ideal $I \subset A$, Drinfeld defined the notion of structure of level $I$ on a Drinfeld module. We extend this to that of level $N$, where $N$ is a finitely generated torsion $A$-module. The case where $N=(I^{-1}/A)^d$, where $d$ is the rank of the Drinfeld module,coincides with the structure of level $I$. The moduli functor is representable by a regular affine scheme. The automorphism group $\mathrm{Aut}_{A}(N)$ acts on the moduli space. Our theorem gives a class of subgroups for which the quotient of the moduli scheme is regular. Examples include generalizations of $\Gamma_0$ and of $\Gamma_1$. We also show that parabolic subgroups appearing in the definition of Hecke correspondences are such subgroups.