Hecke $L$-series for Sinha modules

Abstract

We investigate Goss $L$-functions associated to Anderson $t$-modules defined by Sinha having complex multiplication by Carlitz cyclotomic fields. We show that these $t$-modules are defined over the cyclotomic field and that their $L$-functions are products of Hecke $L$-series for Anderson's Hecke character defined via Coleman functions. Applying identities of Fang and Taelman, we prove that special values of these $L$-functions are expressible in terms of products of values of Thakur's geometric $\Gamma$-function.