On Generalized Modular forms and their Applications

We study the Fourier coefficients of generalized modular forms f(τ) of integral weight k on subgroups Γ of finite index in the modular group. We establish two Theorems asserting that f(τ) is constant if k = 0, f(τ) has empty divisor, and the Fourier coefficients have certain rationality properties. (The result is false if the rationality assumptions are dropped.) These results are applied to the case that f(τ) has a cuspidal divisor, k is arbitrary, and Γ = Γ0(N), where we show that f(τ) is modular, indeed an eta-quotient, under natural rationality assumptions on the Fourier coefficients. We also explain how these results apply to the theory of orbifold vertex operator algebras.