Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 January 2016
We consider the classical theta operator   ${\it\theta}$  on modular forms modulo
 ${\it\theta}$  on modular forms modulo   $p^{m}$  and level
 $p^{m}$  and level   $N$  prime to
 $N$  prime to   $p$ , where
 $p$ , where   $p$  is a prime greater than three. Our main result is that
 $p$  is a prime greater than three. Our main result is that   ${\it\theta}$  mod
 ${\it\theta}$  mod   $p^{m}$  will map forms of weight
 $p^{m}$  will map forms of weight   $k$  to forms of weight
 $k$  to forms of weight   $k+2+2p^{m-1}(p-1)$  and that this weight is optimal in certain cases when
 $k+2+2p^{m-1}(p-1)$  and that this weight is optimal in certain cases when   $m$  is at least two. Thus, the natural expectation that
 $m$  is at least two. Thus, the natural expectation that   ${\it\theta}$  mod
 ${\it\theta}$  mod   $p^{m}$  should map to weight
 $p^{m}$  should map to weight   $k+2+p^{m-1}(p-1)$  is shown to be false. The primary motivation for this study is that application of the
 $k+2+p^{m-1}(p-1)$  is shown to be false. The primary motivation for this study is that application of the   ${\it\theta}$  operator on eigenforms mod
 ${\it\theta}$  operator on eigenforms mod   $p^{m}$  corresponds to twisting the attached Galois representations with the cyclotomic character. Our construction of the
 $p^{m}$  corresponds to twisting the attached Galois representations with the cyclotomic character. Our construction of the   ${\it\theta}$ -operator mod
 ${\it\theta}$ -operator mod   $p^{m}$  gives an explicit weight bound on the twist of a modular mod
 $p^{m}$  gives an explicit weight bound on the twist of a modular mod   $p^{m}$  Galois representation by the cyclotomic character.
 $p^{m}$  Galois representation by the cyclotomic character.