The Explicit Hypergeometric Modularity Method III

Abstract

We refine the Explicit Hypergeometric Modularity Method (EHMM) and develop a variant that applies to a broader class of hypergeometric data. As an application, we establish the modularity of hypergeometric Galois representations arising from length-$4$ data that are not necessarily defined over $\mathbb{Q}$. We also use this method to give explicit constructions of nine modular forms associated with hypergeometric rigid Calabi-Yau threefolds conjectured to be modular by Rodriguez-Villegas. The modularity of these threefolds was first proved by Long-Tu-Yui-Zudilin using a different approach based on the Faltings-Serre method. Moreover, the explicit nature of the method makes it well suited to the computation of special $L$-values of the associated modular forms.