In mathematics, a fundamental pair of periods is an ordered pair of complex numbers that define a lattice in the complex plane. This type of lattice is the underlying object with which elliptic functions and modular forms are defined. Although the concept of a two-dimensional lattice is quite simple, there is a considerable amount of specialized notation and language concerning the lattice that occurs in mathematical literature. This article attempts to review this notation, as well as to present some theorems that are specific to the two-dimensional case.
Definition
A fundamental pair of periods is a pair of complex numbers such that their ratio ω2/ω1 is not real. In other words, considered as vectors in, the two are not collinear. The lattice generated by ω1 and ω2 is This lattice is also sometimes denoted as Λ to make clear that it depends on ω1 and ω2. It is also sometimes denoted by Ω or Ω, or simply by 〈ω1, ω2〉. The two generators ω1 and ω2 are called the lattice basis. The parallelogram defined by the vertices 0, and is called the fundamental parallelogram. It is important to note that, while a fundamental pair generates a lattice, a lattice does not have any unique fundamental pair, that is, many fundamental pairs correspond to the same lattice.
Algebraic properties
A number of properties, listed below, obtain.
Equivalence
Two pairs of complex numbers and are called equivalent if they generate the same lattice: that is, if ⟨ω1,ω2⟩ = ⟨α1,α2⟩.
The fundamental parallelogram contains no further lattice points in its interior or boundary. Conversely, any pair of lattice points with this property constitute a fundamental pair, and furthermore, they generate the same lattice.
Modular symmetry
Two pairs and are equivalent if and only ifthere exists a 2 × 2 matrix with integer entries a, b, c and d and determinantad − bc = ±1 such that that is, so that and Note that this matrix belongs tothe matrixgroup, which, with slight abuse of terminology, is known as the modular group. This equivalence of lattices can be thought of as underlying many of the properties of elliptic functions and modular forms.
Topological properties
The abelian group maps the complex plane into the fundamental parallelogram. That is, every point can be written as for integers m,n, with a point p in the fundamental parallelogram. Since this mapping identifies opposite sides of the parallelogram as being the same, the fundamental parallelogram has the topology of a torus. Equivalently, one says that the quotient manifold is a torus.
Define τ = ω2/ω1 to be the half-period ratio. Then the lattice basis can always be chosen so that τ lies in a special region, called the fundamental domain. Alternately, there always exists an element of PSL that maps a lattice basis to another basis so that τ lies in the fundamental domain. The fundamental domain is given by the set D, which is composed of a set Uplus a part of the boundary of U: where H is the upper half-plane. The fundamental domain D is then built by adding the boundary on the left plus half the arc on the bottom: Three cases pertain:
If and, then there are exactly two lattice bases with the same τ in the fundamental region: and
If, then four lattice bases have the same τ: the above two , and,
If, then there are six lattice bases with the same τ:,, and their negatives.
Note that in the closure of the fundamental domain: and
