Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 May 2009
The theory of algebraic curves associated with subgroups of finite index in the modular group Γ is highly developed for such subgroups of Γ as may be defined by means of congruences in the ring ℤ of rational integers. The situation in he case of non-congruence subgroups of Γ, on the other hand, is drastically different. It reduces to a few isolated examples, two of which may be found in [12]. Related research by A. O. L. Atkin and H. P. F. Swinnerton-Dyer began in [1].