Spherical Functions on a Group of Type
Arun Ram
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC 3010 Australia
aram@unimelb.edu.au
Last update: 19 February 2014
Chapter IV: Calculation of the spherical functions
Statement of result
For each
let be the translation defined by
(so that
Let and define
whenever the denominator is non-zero. (If
then is taken to be Likewise for
If
we put
So if we have
whilst if we have
Finally put
Then is defined whenever
for all
The function
is the counterpart of Harish-Chandra's
for a real semisimple Lie group.
(1) |
for and
|
(2) |
|
(3) |
where is the element of which sends every positive root to a negative root.
|
|
|
Proof. |
|
(1) is clear since for all
(2) is easily checked, remembering that
(3.1.6).
(3) follows from (1) and the definitions.
|
The main result of this chapter is the following:
Let be a homomorphism such that
for all
Then if
we have
where and
The proof will occupy sections (4.2)-(4.5). To see what the formula looks like in a particular case, take
as in (2.7.7). Here
and for all roots where
is the number of elements in the residue field of The roots are
in the notation of (2.2.2) and we may write
where the are non-zero complex numbers, determined up to a common factor by Then
Let be a generator of the maximal ideal, then we may take to be the diagonal matrix
with
(and Then
also by (3.2.11)
where and
So we have
summed over all permutations of
Preliminary reductions
From (3.3.1) we have
where
We shall prove (4.1.2) by computing this integral explicitly.
First we remark that is constant on each double coset
For fixed
the set
meets only finitely many of these double cosets (because they are open and mutually disjoint, and
is compact), and therefore the integrand in (4.2.1) takes only finitely many values, each of which is of the form
for some
Hence
is of the form for some
independent of
Next, since is constant on each double coset
we may assume that Write
and
so that
Then
Consider the integral
We have to look at as
runs through
Now
hence
and therefore
Hence the integration is effectively over the set or equivalently (since
over where
Next, we have
by (2.6.4), so that the integration is effectively over the set
where is any element of
and
where
is a translate of the cone So we have
where is the Haar measure on
normalized as in (3.2), and is a constant independent of To evaluate
we may put
so that is identically Then the left-hand side of
(4.2.3) is equal to the volume of which is
in the notation
introduced in (3.1), and the right-hand side is equal to
so that
But also
and therefore (4.2.3) becomes
So if we put
where
then from (4.2.2) and (4.2.4) we have
Since
is compact it intersects only finitely many of the double cosets
and so as before we conclude that
To evaluate
we shall compute the integrals First of all, if
then and
contains the origin so that
and therefore
for all Consequently
(because the volume of is
Now assume that Then there exists a simple root
such that
The group is the semi-direct product of
and the group
Hence
is the semi-direct product of the group
where
and the group
Hence
where
are the Haar measures on and
respectively, normalized as in (3.2).
In order to compute we write
as the difference between the sets
and
and consider the integrals
Here the integration is no longer over a compact set, since neither nor
is compact, and we shall therefore have to restrict in order that the integrals shall converge.
The integral
Let and let
be such that
Then the integral
converges, and its value is equal to
in the notation of (4.1).
|
|
Proof. |
|
We split up into the union of
and the subsets
If then
and therefore
Consequently
Next consider
From (2.6.6) we can write
where
and Hence
because
Choosing such that
we have
and therefore
Hence
and by (3.1.5) the volume of is equal to
Consequently the value of the integral is
making use of (3.2.7). This is a geometric series with common ratio
hence converges if and only if
Summing the series, we get the value announced in (4.3.1).
|
Reduction of
Consider first the integral
defined in (4.2.10). We recall that in the definition of
is a simple root such that
Suppose that
Then the integral converges and its value is
where
|
|
Proof. |
|
Choose such that
Since we have
Write
in the form where
Then
where
and
Hence
can be written uniquely in the form
and therefore
since normalizes
and is invariant on the right with respect to
So, putting
we have
and
Hence
As runs through the subgroup
defined in (4.2),
runs through
and so we have
But
and by (4.3.1) this integral converges, since
Since is compact it follows that
converges, and we have
since by (3.2.9)
To complete the proof of (4.4.1) we shall show that
For any
|
|
Proof. |
|
From the definition (4.2.5),
where
so that is the semi-direct product of
and where
where
Since we have
which is because is a negative root, and
Hence so that
This completes the proof of (4.4.3) and hence also of (4.4.1).
|
|
Next we consider the integral
where
if
Suppose that
Then the integral converges and is equal to
where as before
|
|
Proof. |
|
As in (4.3) put
so that
is the disjoint union of the sets for
Consider the integral
The calculation proceeds on similar lines to those of (4.3). By (2.6.6) we may write
with
and Hence
where
because and
Hence
But normalizes and does not change the measure, so that
where as before
Consequently
Summing this geometric series, which converges if and only if
and using (4.4.3) now leads to the result. [Recall that is an even integer if
by (3.1.4).]
|
These calculations lead to the following reduction formula:
If then
where is such that
is negative, and
|
|
Proof. |
|
If
this follows directly from (4.4.1) and (4.4.4). By (4.2.7) the are polynomials in
and
where are the simple roots.
Hence it is clear (e.g. by analytic continuation) that (4.4.5) is valid whenever the right-hand side is defined, i.e. whenever
|
This reduction formula is the key result. In the next section we shall use it first to prove that
for all
which was postponed from Chapter III (3.3.3), and then to complete
the proof of the formula (4.1.2).
End of the proof
We shall begin by proving (3.3.3). Clearly it is enough to show that
for all and we may assume that
otherwise
and there is nothing to prove.
Put
and suppose first that is a negative root, and
Then by (4.4.5)
where Replacing
by and subtracting, we get
by (4.1.1). Since is negative, there is a reduced word for ending with

and therefore
by (3.1.7). Hence we have

If on the other hand is positive, then the roles of and
are interchanged, and (4.5.1) is therefore true for all
Summing over it follows that
and hence
by (4.2.6).
Let and let
be a reduced word in the generators
Let be the set of all products
where is or
If for all
we shall say that
is nonsingular.
Suppose is nonsingular. Then
with coefficients
independent of Also
the product being taken over the roots
such that is negative.
|
|
Proof. |
|
by induction on the length of If
then
and
by (4.2.8). If apply (4.4.5) with
|
From (4.5.2) and (4.2.6) it follows that we have
with coefficients μw(s) independent of
t=ν(z). Consider in particular the coefficient
μw0(s), where
w0 is the unique element of W0 which sends every positive root to a
negative root. This coefficient comes only from Jw0(s)
and hence by (4.5.2) we have
(4.5.4)
μw0(s)=
q(w0)
Q(q)
λw0,w0
(s)=
c(s)
Q(q-1)
since q(w0)-1Q(q)=Q(q-1).
Next we have
Assume that |s| is nonsingular (i.e. that
|s(ta)|≠1 for
all a∈Σ0). Then the homomorphisms
ws with w∈W0 are linearly independent over
ℂ.
Assuming this for the moment, since ωs=ωw′s
for all w′∈W0 we have from (4.5.3)
∑w∈W0μw
(s)(ws,t)=
∑w∈W0μw
(w′s)(ww′s,t)
and therefore (assuming |s| nonsingular) by (4.5.5)
μw(s)=μ1(ws)
for all w∈W0. In particular, therefore
μ1(w0s)=
c(s)Q(q-1)
by (4.5.4); or, replacing s by w0s,
μ1(s)=
c(s-1)Q(q-1)
by (4.1.1). Hence (4.5.3) now becomes
(4.5.6)
ωs(z-1)=
δ(t)1/2
Q(q-1)
∑w∈W0c
(ws-1)
(ws,t)
provided that |s| is nonsingular. However, this restriction is superfluous, for the left-hand
side of (4.5.6) is of the form s(Φt)
for some Φt∈ℂ[T],
and the right-hand side is of the form s(Ψt)
for some Ψt∈ℂ(T),
the field of fractions of ℂ[T]. Since
Φt and Ψt
take the same values on a dense open set in S=Hom(T,ℂ*),
it follows that they are equal and therefore (4.5.6) is valid whenever the right-hand side is defined, i.e. provided s is nonsingular.
Finally, to derive the formula (4.3.2) we have merely to replace s by s-1
and put z0=z-1 in (4.5.6), bearing in mind (3.3.2).
There remains the proof of (4.5.5). This will follow from
Let s1,…,sn
(n≥1) be distinct elements of
Hom(T,ℂ*).
Then they are linearly independent.
|
|
Proof. |
|
The argument is a familiar one. If the si are linearly dependent, choose a linear relation between them containing as
few non-zero terms as possible, say
∑i=1rλi
si=0
(renumbering the si if necessary) with each λi≠0.
Since s1≠sr there exists
t0∈T such that s1(t0)≠sr(t0).
Then we have
∑i=1rλi
si(t)=0
and
∑i=1rλisi
(t0)si(t)=0
for all t∈T, so by subtraction we get
∑i=1rλi
(si(t0)-sr(t0))
si=0
contradicting the minimality of r.
□
|
From (4.5.7) it follows that if the set {ws:w∈W0}
is linearly dependent, then w1s=w2s
for some w1≠w2 in W0,
and hence s is fixed by an element ≠1 in W0.
Hence the same is true of log |s|∈Hom(T,ℝ).
Identifying log |s| with an element
u∈A* as in (3.3.13), it follows that u has non-trivial stabilizer under
the action of W0 on A* and hence lies on a reflecting hyperplane. In other
words, we have u(a∨)=0 for some
a∈Σ0, and this means that
|s(ta)|=1.
This proves (4.5.5) and hence completes the proof of (4.1.2).
The singular case
Next we consider the problem of finding an expression for ωs(z-1)
when s is singular, i.e. when s(tb)=1
for some b∈Σ1. We have remarked earlier
that ωs(z-1)
is of the form s(Ψt) (where
t=ν(z)) for some polynomial
Ψt∈ℂ[T]W0,
independent of s. Hence we can calculate ωs(z-1)
for singular s as the limit of ωs1(z-1)
as s1→s through nonsingular values of s1.
This limit can be computed by applying L'Hopital's rule in exactly the same way that the degree of an irreducible representation of a compact Lie group is derived from
Weyl's character formula.
For simplicity we shall consider first the 'most singular' case, namely s=1. Then we have to
evaluate the limit as s→1 of
∑w∈W0c
(ws)(ws,t)
(t∈T++).
In calculating the limit, we may make s→1 through real values. So let s be real and let
σ be the linear form on A defined by
σ(t(0))=log s(t)
for all t∈T. Then
s(ta)=eσ(a∨),
so that
c(s)=∏a∈Σ0+
(1+qa/2-1/2e-σ(a∨))
(1-qa/2-1/2qa-1e-σ(a∨))
1-e-σ(2a∨)
.
Let us temporarily write
∏a∈Σ0+
(1+qa/2-1/2e-σ(a∨))
(1-qa/2-1/2qa-1e-σ(a∨))
=∑y∈L∨Ay
e-σ(y)
where L∨ is the lattice in A spanned by the a∨
for a∈Σ0, and all but finitely many of the
coefficients Ay are zero. Then
c(s)(s,t)=
∑Ayeσ(x+p-y)
∑w∈W0ε(w)ewσ(p)
where x=t(0) and
p=∑a∈Σ0+a∨,
and ε(w) is the signature (±1)
of w∈W0. So we have
∑w∈W0c
(ws)(ws,t)=
∑yAy
∑w∈W0ε(w)ewσ(x+p-y)
∑w∈W0ε(w)ewσ(p)
and therefore the limit of the left-hand side as s→1, that is as
σ→0, is
∑yAy
π(x+p-y)π(p)
where π is the polynomial function ∏a∈Σ0+a
on A.
To express this result in a concise form let us make the following convention: if
F=∑αiti∈ℂ[T],
where αi∈ℂ and ti∈T,
then π∘F denotes the polynomial function
∑αiπ∘ti on
A: that is,
(π∘F)(x)=∑
αiπ(ti(x))
(x∈A).
Then we have proved
Let t=ν(z)∈T++
and put x=t(0). Let
F=∏a∈Σ0+
(1+qa/2-1/2ta-1)
(1-qa/2-1/2qa-1ta-1)
∈ℂ[T].
Then
ω1(z-1)=
δ(t)-1/2Q(q-1)
(π∘F)(x+p)
π(p)
where π=∏a∈Σ0+a
and p=∑a∈Σ0+a∨.
Hence ω1(z-1)
is of the form Φ(x)e-λ(x),
where Φ is a polynomial and λ is a linear form on A such that
λ(x)>0 for all
x∈C‾0 (except
x=0). It follows that
ω1(z-1)→0
as x→∞ in any direction in the cone C‾0
and consequently that the spherical function ω1 is bounded.
The case of arbitrary singular s is quite analogous, and we shall merely state the result. Let Σ0s
be the subsystem of Σ0 consisting of all roots a such that
|s(ta)|=1; put
cs(s)
=
∏a∈Σ0+a∉Σ0s+
c0(a,s)
Fs
=
∏a∈Σ0s+
(1+qa/2-1/2ta-1)
(1-qa/2-1/2qa-1ta-1)
πs
=
∏a∈Σ0s+
a,ps=
∑a∈Σ0s+
a∨.
We have, for all s0∈S=Hom(T,ℂ*),
and z∈Z++,
ωs0(z-1)=
δ(t)-1/2
Q(q-1)
∑s
(πs∘Fs)
(x+ps)
πs(ps)
cs(s)(s,t)
summed over all s in the orbit W0s0 of
s0. As before,
t=ν(z) and
x=t(0).
Hence ωs0(z-1)
is of the form
(4.6.3)
ωs0(z-1)=
∑sΦs(x)
(sδ-1/2,t)
where the Φs are polynomial functions on A,
depending on s.
Bounded spherical functions
Let s0∈S=Hom(T,ℂ*).
As in (3.3.13) we shall identify log |s0|∈Hom(T,ℝ)
with an element of A*, namely the linear form on A whose value at
t(0) is
log |s0(t)|
for all t∈T. In particular, with this identification it makes sense to talk of the convex hull in
A* of the set
D={log wδ1/2:w∈W0}.
The spherical function ωs0 is bounded
⇔log |s0|
lies in the convex hull of D.
|
|
Proof. |
|
Let C0*,
C0*⊥ be the images in A*
of the cones C0, C0⊥
respectively, under the isomorphism of A onto A*
defined by the scalar product. Then C0*‾,
the closure of C0*, is a fundamental region for the action of
W0 on A*.
Since ωs0=ωws0
for all w∈W0, we may assume that
log |s0|∈C0*‾,
or equivalently that |s0(ta)|≥1
for all a∈Σ0+.
It is not hard to show that
D∩C0+‾=
(log δ1/2-C0*⊥)
∩C0*‾
so that we have to prove that
ωs0 is bounded⇔
log δ1/2-
log |s0|∈
C0*⊥
or equivalently that
ωs0 is bounded⇔
|(δ-1/2s0,t)|
≤1for all t∈T++.
Suppose first that ωs0 is hounded. Let
z∈Z++,
t=ν(z),
x=t(0) and assume that
x∈C0, i.e. that x
does not lie on a wall of the chamber C0. By (4.6.3) we have
ωs0(z-n)
=
∑s∈W0s0
Φs(nx)
(δ-1/2s,tn)
=
(δ-1/2s0,tn)
{
Φs0(nx)+
∑s≠s0
Φs(nx)
(s,tn)(s0,tn)
}
.
Consider the terms in this sum. We have s=ws0≠s0, hence
|(s,tn)(s0,tn)|=
|(ws0,tn)(s0,tn)|
=e-nλ(x) say,
where λ=log |s0|-wlog |s0|∈C0*⊥.
Since x∈C0 it follows that λ(x)>0.
Also Φs(nx),
for fixed x, is a polynomial in n. Hence, as
n→∞, we have
|Φs(nx)(s,tn)(s0,tn)|
=|Φs(nx)|
e-nλ(x)→0
and therefore
ωs0(z-n)∼
(δ-1/2s0,tn)
Φs0(nx).
The polynomial Φs0 is not identically zero. Since
ωs0 is bounded it follows that, for almost all
t∈T++, we have
|(δ-1/2s0,t)|
≤1.
It follows then that |(δ-1/2s0,t)|≤1
for all t∈T++.
Conversely, suppose that s0 satisfies this condition. Since the set of bounded spherical functions is closed in the set
Ω of all spherical functions (see e.g. Tamagawa [Tam1960], p. 378), we may assume that
s0 is nonsingular. But then we can use the original formula (4.1.2):
ωs0(z-1)=
(δ-1/2s0,t)
Q(q-1)
{
c(s0)+
∑w≠1
(ws0,t)
(s0,t)
c(ws0)
}
.
Since s0∈C0* and
t∈T++ we have
|(ws0,t)|≤
|(s0,t)|
for all w≠1, and therefore
|ωs0(z-1)|
≤1Q(q-1)
∑w∈W0
|c(ws0)|.
Consequently ωs0 is bounded.
□
|
Notes and references
This is a typed version of the book Spherical Functions on a Group of p-adic Type by I. G. Macdonald, Magdalen College, University of Oxford.
This book is copyright the University of Madras, Madras 5, India and was first published November 1971.
Published by the Ramanujan Institute, University of Madras, and printed at the Baptist Mission Press, 41A Acharyya Jagadish Bose Road, Calcutta 17, India.
page history