On the integrality of modular functions over $\mathbb{Z}[j]$ and Kronecker-type congruences

Abstract

Let $N$ be a positive integer and let $f$ be a meromorphic modular function of level $N$ with rational Fourier coefficients. For a prime $p$, define a function $f_p$ on the complex upper half-plane $\mathbb{H}$ by \begin{equation*} f_p(\tau)=f\left(\frac{\tau}{p}\right)\quad(\tau\in\mathbb{H}). \end{equation*} Let $j$ be the elliptic modular function. We show that if $p\equiv 1$ or $-1\Mod{N}$ and $f$ is integral over $\mathbb{Z}[j]$, then \begin{equation*} \frac{1}{p}(f_p^p-f)(f_p-f^p) \end{equation*} is also integral over $\mathbb{Z}[j]$. This result generalizes the classical Kronecker congruence relation for $j$.