Quadratic forms and Hecke operators

The numerous explicit formulae of the classical theory of quadratic forms revealed remarkable multiplicative properties of the numbers of integral representations of integers by positive definite integral quadratic forms. These properties were explained by the original theory of Hecke operators. As regards the integral representations of quadratic forms in more than one variable by quadratic forms, no multiplicative properties were known at that time, and so there was nothing to explain. However, the idea of Hecke operators was so natural and attractive that soon attempts were made to cultivate it in the neighbouring field of modular forms of several variables. The approach has proved to be fruitful; in particular, a number of multiplicative properties of integral representations of quadratic forms by quadratic forms were eventually discovered. By now the theory has reached a certain maturity, and the time has come to give an up-to-date report in a concise form, in order to provide a solid ground for further development. The purpose of this book is to present in the form of a self-contained text-book the contemporary state of the theory of Hecke operators on the spaces of hoi om orphic modular forms of integral weight (the Siegel modular forms) for congruence subgroups of integral symplectic groups. The book can also be used for an initial study of modular forms of one or several variables and theta-series of positive definite integral quadratic forms.