Congruences between modular forms modulo prime powers

Abstract

Given a prime $p \ge 5$ and an abstract odd representation $\rho_n$ with coefficients modulo $p^n$ (for some $n \ge 1$) and big image, we prove the existence of a lift of $\rho_n$ to characteristic $0$ whenever local lifts exist (under some technical conditions). Moreover, we can chose the inertial type of our lift at all primes but finitely many (where the lift is of Steinberg type). We apply this result to the realm of modular forms, proving a level lowering theorem modulo prime powers and providing examples of level raising. In particular, our method shows that given a modular eigenform $f$ without Complex Multiplication or inner twists, for all primes $p$ but finitely many, and for all positive integers $n$, there exists another eigenform $g\neq f$, which is congruent to $f$ modulo $p^n$.