Kloosterman sums and Hecke polynomials in characteristics 2 and 3

Abstract: In this paper we give a modular interpretation of the $k$-th symmetric power $L$-function of the Kloosterman family of exponential sums in characteristics 2 and 3, and in the case of $p=2$ and $k$ odd give the precise 2-adic Newton polygon. We also give a $p$-adic modular interpretation of Dwork's unit root $L$-function of the Kloosterman family, and give the precise 2-adic Newton polygon when $k$ is odd. In a previous paper, we gave an estimate for the $q$-adic Newton polygon of the symmetric power $L$-function of the Kloosterman family when $p \geq 5$. We discuss how this restriction on primes was not needed, and so the results of that paper hold for all $p \geq 2$.