A Brief Introduction To Theta Functions

Originally published: New York: Rinehart and Winston, 1961.

This book contains lectures on theta functions written by experts well known for excellence in exposition. The lectures represent the content of four courses given at the Centre de Recherches Mathematiques in Montreal during the academic year 1991-1992, which was devoted to the study of automorphic forms. Aimed at graduate students, the book synthesizes the classical and modern points of view in theta functions, concentrating on connections to number theory and representation theory. An excellent introduction to this important subject of current research, this book is suitable as a text in advanced graduate courses.

This volume is the first of three in a series surveying the theory of theta functions. Based on lectures given by the author at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Bombay, these volumes constitute a systematic exposition of theta functions, beginning with their historical roots as analytic functions in one variable (Volume I), touching on some of the beautiful ways they can be used to describe moduli spaces (Volume II), and culminating in a methodical comparison of theta functions in analysis, algebraic geometry, and representation theory (Volume III).

Theta functions were studied extensively by Ramanujan. This book provides a systematic development of Ramanujan’s results and extends them to a general theory. The author’s treatment of the subject is comprehensive, providing a detailed study of theta functions and modular forms for levels up to 12. Aimed at advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers, the organization, user-friendly presentation, and rich source of examples, lends this book to serve as a useful reference, a pedagogical tool, and a stimulus for further research. Topics, especially those discussed in the second half of the book, have been the subject of much recent research; many of which are appearing in book form for the first time. Further results are summarized in the numerous exercises at the end of each chapter.

This book gives a complete proof of the Verlinde formula and of its connection to generalized theta functions.

Introduction to Algebraic and Abelian Functions is a self-contained presentation of a fundamental subject in algebraic geometry and number theory. For this revised edition, the material on theta functions has been expanded, and the example of the Fermat curves is carried throughout the text. This volume is geared toward a second-year graduate course, but it leads naturally to the study of more advanced books listed in the bibliography.

These notes present new as well as classical results from the theory of theta functions on Riemann surfaces, a subject of renewed interest in recent years. Topics discussed here include: the relations between theta functions and Abelian differentials, theta functions on degenerate Riemann surfaces, Schottky relations for surfaces of special moduli, and theta functions on finite bordered Riemann surfaces.

This book presents several results on elliptic functions and Pi, using Jacobi's triple product identity as a tool to show suprising connections between different topics within number theory such as theta functions, Eisenstein series, the Dedekind delta function, and Ramanujan's work on Pi. The included exercises make it ideal for both classroom use and self-study.