In mathematics, an automorphic function is a function on a space that is invariant under the action of some group, in other words a function on the quotient space. Often the space is a complex manifold and the group is a discrete group.
Inmathematics, the notion of factor of automorphy arises for a group acting on a complex-analytic manifold. Suppose a group acts on a complex-analytic manifold . Then, also acts on the space of holomorphic functions from to the complex numbers. A function is termed an automorphic form if the following holds:
where is an everywhere nonzero holomorphic function. Equivalently, an automorphic form is a function whose divisor is invariant under the action of .
The factor of automorphy for the automorphic form is the function . An automorphic function is an automorphic form for which is the identity.
Some facts about factors of automorphy:
Relation between factors of automorphy and other notions:
The specific case of a subgroup of SL(2, R), acting on the upper half-plane, is treated in the article on automorphic factors.