A finite field hypergeometric function associated to eigenvalues of a Siegel eigenform

Abstract

Although links between values of finite field hypergeometric functions and eigenvalues of elliptic modular forms are well known, we establish in this paper that there are also connections to eigenvalues of Siegel modular forms of higher degree. Specifically, we relate the eigenvalue of the Hecke operator of index $p$ of a Siegel eigenform of degree 2 and level 8 to a special value of a ${}_4F_3$-hypergeometric function.