Spherical Functions on a Group of p-adic Type

Arun Ram
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Melbourne
Parkville, VIC 3010 Australia
aram@unimelb.edu.au

Last update: 13 February 2014

Chapter III: Spherical functions on a group of p-adic type

Throughout this chapter and the succeeding ones, G is a simply-connected group of p-adic type, as defined in (2.7), and the notation and hypotheses of Chapter II remain in force.

The root system Σ1

For each affine root α, the group Uα is of finite index in Uα-1, by (2.7.4). We define qα= (Uα-1:Uα). Then it follows from axiom (I) that (3.1.1) qwα=qα for all w∈W. In particular, since wα+1∘wα sends α+r to α+r+2 for all r∈ℤ, we have (3.1.2) qα=qα+2. Hence, if a∈Σ0 and r∈ℤ, qa+r is equal to either qa or qa+1. But it can happen that qa≠qa+1.

As another particular case of (3.1.1) we have (3.1.3) qa+r=qwa+r for all w∈W0.

We define a set Σ1 of vectors in A* as follows:

(1) Σ0⊆Σ1⊆Σ0∪12Σ0;
(2) If a∈Σ0, then 12a∈Σ1⇔qa≠qa+1.

Σ1 is an irreducible root system in A*, with Weyl group W0.

Proof.

We have to show that Σ1 satisfies the axioms of (2.1), except for (RS 4). (RS 1) and (RS 5) follow immediately from the corresponding facts for Σ0, and (RS 2) is an immediate consequence of (3.1.3). So it remains to show that b(c∨)∈ℤ for all b,c∈Σ1.

If b,c are both in Σ0 there is nothing to prove. If c∈12Σ0, say c=12a, then c∨=2a∨, and b(2a∨) is an even integer if b∈Σ0, an integer if b∈12Σ0. The only remaining possibility is that c∈Σ0 and b=12a∈12Σ0. Then we have to show that a(c∨) is an even integer.

Suppose that a(c∨) is odd. The translation tc (defined by tc(0)=c∨) is in the affine Weyl group, and tc(a)=a-a(c∨). Hence by (3.1.1) we have qa=qa-a(c), and therefore qa=qa+1 by (3.1.2), because a(c∨) is odd. But then b=12a∉Σ1.

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For each a∈Σ0 define qa/2=qa+1 /qa. Thus if b∈Σ0∪12Σ0 we have qb≠1⇔b∈Σ1. From (3.1.3), qwb=qb for all w∈W0.

If G1,G2 are subgroups of a group and G1⊆G2, we write (G1:G2) to mean (G2:G1)-1. With this convention,

(Ua-r:Ua)= qa/2[r/2] qar where [r2] is the integral part of r2.

Proof.

The proof is a straightforward calculation, using (3.1.2).

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Let a∈Π0. Then from (2.7.4) we have (B:B∩waBwa)=(Ua:Ua+1)=qa+1=qa/2qa, so that (3.1.6) (BwaB:B)= qa/2qa (a∈Π0).

For each w∈W, let q(w)= (BwB:B).

Let w=w1⋯wr be a reduced word for w∈W. Then q(w)=q(w1) ⋯q(wr).

Proof.

If α∈Π and w∈W are such that l(wαw)>l(w) then (2.3.7) BwαwB=BwαB·BwB. Since wα≠w, the cosets BwαB and BwB are disjoint, and
therefore q(wαw)=q(wα)q(w). (3.1.7) now follows by induction on the length.

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If w∈W0, then q(w)=∏bqb, the product being taken over the b∈Σ1 which are positive on C0 and negative on wC0.

Proof.

Let w=w1⋯wr be a reduced word for w in W0, where wi=wai, ai∈Π0. Then the roots a∈Σ0 which are positive on C0 and negative on wC0 are congruent under W0 to a1,…,ar. The result now follows from (3.1.7), (3.1.6) and the fact that qwb=qb for all b∈Σ1, w∈W0.

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For each b∈Σ1 let ξb be an indeterminate over ℤ such that ξwb=ξb for all w∈W0. Define ξ(w)=∏b ξb(w∈W0) where as above the product is over the b∈Σ1 which are positive on C0 and negative on wC0, and put Q(ξ)=∑w∈W0 ξ(w).

Q(ξ) is the Poincaré polynomial of the root system Σ1. It is a polynomial in one variable if all the roots of Σ1 are of the same length (types Al, Dl, E6, E7, E8), two variables if Σ1 is of type Bl, Cl, F4 or G2, and three variables in the case of BCl.

Since K=⋃w∈W0BwB, we have (3.1.9) (K:B)=∑w∈W0 q(w)=Q(q) say.

Haar measures

If Γ is any locally compact topological group, the modulus function ΔΓ (see e.g. [Die1967], Chapter XIV) is a continuous homomorphism of Γ into the multiplicative group of positive real numbers, and therefore is equal to 1 on any compact subgroup of Γ.

In the case of our group G, it follows (using (2.7.3)) from this remark that the kernel of ΔG contains all parahoric subgroups and hence is the whole of G: in other words, G is unimodular. So are K and Uα, because they are compact ((2.7.3) and (2.7.4)); so also are U(a) and U±, because they are unions of compact subgroups. Finally, the group Z is unimodular, for it has H as a compact normal subgroup with Z/H discrete, by (2.7.1).

On the other hand, the groups B0±=ZU± are not in general unimodular.

We fix Haar measures dg, dk, dz, dua on G, K, Z, U(a) (a∈Σ0) respectively, such that ∫Hdg=∫Kdk= ∫Hdz=∫Ua dua=1.

Next, consider the group U+. Arrange the positive roots in a sequence a1,…,an such that height (ai)≤ height (aj) if i<j. Then, as we ought to have proved in (2.6), the group Uj=∏i≥j U(ai) is a normal subgroup of U+ for j=1,2,…,n, and Uj is the semi-direct product of U(aj) and Uj+1. Hence if duj+1 is a Haar measure on Uj+1, it follows that duj=duajduj+1 is a Haar measure on Uj. Consequently (3.2.1) du+=∏i=1n duai, where u+=∏i=1nuai, is a Haar measure on U1=U+, for which the subgroup U(C0)=∏i=1nUai has measure 1.

The left and right Haar measures on B0+=ZU+ are then dl(zu+) = dzdu+, dr(zu+) = d(zu+z-1) dz=Δ(z)dz du+ where Δ is a continuous homomorphism of Z into the multiplicative group ℝ+* of positive real numbers, defined by Δ(z)=d (zu+z-1) /du+.

For any integrable function on G we have ∫Gf(g)dg= ∫K∫ZU+ f(zku+)dk dr(zu+) or symbolically (3.2.2) dg=Δ(z)dk dzdu+.

Since Z normalizes each U(a) we have homomorphisms Δ(a):Z→ℝ+* defined by Δa(z)=d (zuaz-1) /dua. Δ and Δa are trivial on H, hence induce homomorphisms δ, δa:T→ℝ+* such that Δ=δ∘ν, Δa=δa∘ν.

From (3.2.1) we have immediately (3.2.3) Δ(z)= ∏a∈Σ0+ Δa(z).

Also the value of Δa(z) is given by

Let a∈Σ0, z∈Z, t=ν(z)∈T. Then Δa(z)= δa(t)= qa/212a(x) qaa(x) where x=t(0). If a(x)≥0 then δa(t) is a positive integer.

Proof.

Since t(a)=a∘t-1=a-a(x) we have zUaz-1=Ua-a(x) and hence Δa(z) = (zUaz-1:Ua) = (Ua-a(x):Ua) = qa/2[r/2] qar by (3.1.5), where r=a(x). Now x belongs to the lattice spanned by the b∨ (b∈Σ0). If qa/2≠1, that is if 12a∈Σ1, then 12a(x)∈ℤ by (3.1.4) and therefore r is an even integer, i.e. [r/2]=12a(x).

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Δ(z)=δ(t)= ∏b∈Σ1+ qbb(x).

Proof.

(3.2.3), (3.2.4).

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If w∈W0 and n∈ν-1(w), then Δwa(nzn-1) =Δa(z), δwa(wtw-1) =δa(t) (z∈Z, t∈T).

For qwb=qb (b∈Σ1).

Let a∈Π0. Then δ(ta)=δa (ta)=qa/2 qa2.

Proof.

Consider the product ∏bδb(ta) extended over the roots b∈Σ0+, b≠a. Since wa permutes this set of roots, we have ∏bδb(ta)= ∏bδwab(ta) =∏bδb(ta-1) by (3.2.6), so that ∏bδb(ta)=1. Hence δ(ta)=δa(ta), and δa(ta)=qa/2qa2 by (3.2.4), since ta(0)=a∨.

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Let t∈T++, w∈W0. Then δ(t)12/ δ(wtw-1)12 is a positive integer.

Proof.

First consider the case where w=wa (a∈Π0), and let t be any element of T. Put x=t(0). Then (watwa)(0)=wa(x)=x-a(x)a∨ so that watwa=t·ta-a(x) and therefore (3.2.9) δ(t)/δ (watwa) = δ(ta)a(x) = qa/2a(x) qa2a(x) by (3.2.7) = δa(t)2 Hence δ(t)12/δ(watwa)12 is a positive integer, by (3.2.4), provided that a(x)≥0.

Now let t∈T++ and let w be any element of W0. Let w=war⋯wa1 be a reduced word for w, where ai∈Π0 (1≤i≤r). Put ti=wai⋯wa1twa1⋯wai and put xi=ti(0)=wai⋯wa1(x) where x=t(0). Then ai+1(xi)= (wa1⋯waiai+1) (x)≥0 because wa1⋯waiai+1 is a positive root (it is one of the positive roots which is negative on w-1C0, see (2.1)) and x∈C‾0. Hence from the first part of the proof we have δ(ti)12/δ(ti+1)12∈ℤ and therefore δ(t)12/δ(wtw-1)12=δ(t0)12/δ(tr)12∈ℤ.

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For the group U- we have analogously (3.2.1') du-=∏i=1n du-ai and the right Haar measure on B0-=ZU- is dr(zu-)=Δ′(z)dzdu-, where Δ′(z)=d(zu-z-1)/du-=∏Δa(z) over the negative roots. By (3.2.3) and (3.2.4) this is equal to Δ(z)-1. Hence (3.2.10) dr(zu-)=Δ (z)-1dzdu- and (3.2.2') dg=Δ(z)-1 dkdzdu-.

In the case of a Chevalley group (2.5) all the qa are equal to q, the number of elements in the residue field, and all the qa/2 are equal to 1, so that Σ1=Σ0. So in this case we have δ(t)12= qr(t(0)) where r=12∑a∈Σ0+a.

We shall need later the value of the index vt=(KtK:K), where t∈T++. The computation fits in conveniently here.

Let C′ be any chamber of Σ and let B′=P(C′) be the corresponding Iwahori subgroup. Then (B′tB′:B′)= δ(t) for all t∈T++.

Proof.

By (2.6.4) we have B′=U(C′)-HH(C′)+. If α=-a+r is positive on C′, where a∈Σ0+, then tα=-a+r+a(t(0)) is also positive on C′, because a(t(0))≥0. Hence tU(C′)-t-1⊂B′ and therefore B′tB′=B′tU(C′)+. Consequently (B′tB′:B′) = (B′tU(C′)+t-1:B′) = (tU(C′)+t-1:B′∩tU(C′)+t-1) = (tU(C′)+t-1:U(C′)+) by (2.6.5) = δ(t).

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Let t∈T++. Then q(wtw-1)=δ(t) for all w∈W0.

Proof.

q(wtw-1)= (Bwtw-1B:B) =(B′tB′:B′) where B′=w-1Bw.

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Let t∈T++ and let W0t be the centralizer of t in W0, or equivalently the subgroup of W0 which fixes the point t(0)∈A. Put (3.2.14) Qt(ξ)= ∑w∈W0tξ(w) in the notation of (3.1), and let Qt(ξ)=Q(ξ) /Qt(ξ) which is also a polynomial.

vt=(KtK:K)=δ(t)Qt(q-1) for all t∈T++.

Proof.

By (2.3.5) we have KtK=BW0tW0B, which is the disjoint union of the sets Bt1W0B as t1 runs through the set {wtw-1:w∈W0}. For each such t1 there exists a unique w1∈W0 such that t1-1C⊂w1C0, i.e., C⊂t1w1C0. Thus we have (Bt1W0B:B) = ∑w∈W0 (Bt1w1wB:B) = ∑w∈W0 q(t1w1w). Now by (2.2.2) and (3.1.7) we have q(t1w1w)=q(t1w1)·q(w). In particular, taking w=w1-1, it follows that q(t1w1)=q (t1)·q(w1)-1 and therefore (Bt1W0B:B)= ∑w∈W0q(t1) ·q(w1)-1q (w) or, making use of (3.2.12), (3.2.16) (Bt1W0B:B)= δ(t)q(w1)-1 Q(q).

Now the subgroup W0t of W0 has a unique set W0t of left coset representatives with the property that wt∈W0tand wt∈W0t⇒l (wtwt)=l (wt)+l(wt).

Let w0 be the unique element of W0 of maximum length, and let w0t be the unique element of maximum length in W0t. Then, with w1 as above, we have

w1w0w0t∈W0t.

Proof.

We have t1=wtw-1 and we may assume that w∈W0t. Since wt-1w-1C⊂w1C0, we have wt-1(0)∈w1C‾0, hence w1-1wt-1(0)∈C‾0; but also w0t-1(0)∈C‾0, because t∈T++. Hence w1-1w and w0 both map t-1(0) to the same point, because C‾0 is a fundamental domain for W0. It follows that w0w1-1w belongs to W0t. We want to show that it is equal to w0t, i.e. that it changes the sign of every a∈Σ0+ such that a(t(0))=0.

So let a>0, a(t(0))=0 and let y∈C. Then z=w1-1t1-1y∈C0. We have w1-1wa(z)= a(t-1w-1y) = a(w-1y-t(0)) = wa(y)because  a(t(0))=0 and since w∈W0t we have wa>0, hence wa(y)>0. Hence w1-1wa>0 and therefore w0w1-1wa<0, as required.

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So we have w1w0=wt w0t for some wt∈W0t. Since l(wtw0t) = l(wt)+ l(w0t), l(w1w0) = l(w0)- l(w1) it follows that q(wt) q(w0t)= q(w0) q(w1)-1 and therefore (3.2.18) ∑q(w1)-1 = q(w0t)q(w0) ∑q(wt) = Qt(q-1).

Hence finally (KtK:K) = (K:B)-1 ∑w∈W0t (Bwtw-1W0B:B) = Q(q)-1∑δ(t) q(w1)-1Q(q) by (3.2.16) = δ(t)Qt(q-1) by (3.2.18).

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Zonal spherical functions on G relative to K

Let ℒ(G,K) be the algebra of K-bi-invariant functions on G defined in (1.1), and let ℋ(G,K) be the subring consisting of the ℤ-valued functions in ℒ(G,K). ℋ(G,K) is called the Hecke ring of G relative to K. Clearly ℒ(G,K)≅ℋ(G,K)⊗ℤℂ.

For each t∈T++ let χt be the characteristic function of the double coset KtK. By (1.1.1) and (2.6.11) the χt form a ℤ-basis of ℋ(G,K) and a ℂ-basis of ℒ(G,K). The identity element is χ1, the characteristic function of K.

Let s:T→ℂ* be a homomorphism. Then (sδ12)∘ν is a continuous homomorphism of Z into ℂ*, which we extend trivially across U- to a continuous homomorphism ϕs:B0-→ℂ*: ϕs(zu-)= (sδ12,ν(z)). [To avoid large collections of brackets, we shall sometimes write (s,t) for s(t), where s∈Hom(T,ℂ*) and t∈T.] Now extend ϕs to a function on the whole of G by the rule ϕs(kzu-)= (sδ12,ν(z)) (k∈K, z∈Z, u-∈U-).

For each s∈Hom(T,ℂ*) the function ωs(g)=∫K ϕs(g-1k) dk is a zonal spherical function on G relative to K. Moreover, if s is a character of T, i.e. if |s(t)|=1 for all t∈T, then ωs is positive definite.

Proof.

This is a direct consequence of the results of Chapter I. Since K∩B0-⊂HU- (see the proof of (2.6.11)(2)) it follows that ϕs restricted to B0- is trivial on K∩B0- and hence (1.2.7) is a zonal spherical function on B0- relative to K∩B0-. Hence ωs is a z.s.f. on G relative to K, by (1.3.2). The second assertion follows from (1.4.7) and (3.2.10).

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For all g0∈G and s∈Hom(T,ℂ*), ωs-1(g0) =ωs(g0-1).

Proof.

Let K‾=K/(K∩B0-) and let dk‾ be a relatively invariant measure on K‾ with total mass 1. If g0-1k=k′zu- (k′∈K, z∈Z, u-∈U-) then as in (1.4.6) we have dk‾=Δ(z)-1dk‾′, and hence ωs-1(g0) = ∫K‾ ϕs-1 (g0-1k) dk‾ = ∫K‾ (s-1δ12,ν(z)) Δ(z)-1d k‾′ = ∫K‾(sδ12,ν(z-1)) dk‾′ = ∫K‾ϕs (g0k′)dk‾ ′=ωs(g0-1).

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The group W0 acts on T by inner automorphisms, hence acts on Hom(T,ℂ*): namely (ws,t)= (s,w-1tw) (s∈Hom(T,ℂ*), t∈T, w∈W0).

For all w∈W0 and s∈Hom(T,ℂ*), ωs=ωws.

This result is a consequence of the calculations we shall undertake in Chapter IV, and we shall postpone its proof to (4.5). The reader can check that there is no vicious circle involved here.

Now let f∈ℒ(G,K). Then if ωˆs is the spherical measure associated with ωs, ωˆs(f) = (f*ωs)(1) = ∫Gf(g) ωs(g-1) dg = ∫Gf(g) (∫Kϕs(gk)dk) dg = ∫Gf(g)ϕs (g)dg = ∫K∫Z∫U-f (kzu-) (sδ12,ν(z)) Δ(z)-1 dkdzdu- = ∫Z(sδ-12,ν(z)) (∫U-f(zu-)du-) dz.

The integral Δ(z)-12∫U-f(zu-)du- depends only on f and ν(z)=t say. We shall therefore write f∼(t)=δ (t)-12 ∫U-f(zu-) du- for t∈T and any z∈ν-1(t). Then the calculation above shows that (3.3.4) ωˆs(f)= ∑t∈Tf∼ (t)s(t).

The f∼(t) should be regarded as the Fourier coefficients of f∈ℒ(G,K). There are no convergence difficulties here: since f has compact support and the double cosets KtU- are open (because K is open) and mutually disjoint, it follows that f takes non-zero values on only finitely many of these double cosets, i.e. f∼ has finite support in T.

Let ℂ[T] be the group algebra of T over ℂ. Since T is a free abelian group generated by the ta with a∈Π0, it follows that ℂ[T]=ℂ[ta±1:a∈Π0], hence is a commutative integral domain. Consequently ℂ[T] is the coordinate ring (or affine algebra) of an affine algebraic variety, say S, whose points are the ℂ-algebra homomorphisms s:ℂ[T]→ℂ. Restricting these homomorphisms to T gives a bisection of S onto Hom(T,ℂ*), and we shall identify Hom(T,ℂ*) with S in this way. The elements of ℂ[T] can therefore be regarded as functions on S=Hom(T,ℂ*). Hence, by the Nullstellensatz, if ϕ∈ℂ[T], (3.3.5) ϕ=0⇔s(ϕ)=0 for all s∈S.

We regard the affine Weyl group W as a discrete group. Then, in the notation of (1.1), ℒ(T) is the algebra of functions on T with finite support. The mapping ϕ⟼∑t∈T ϕ(t)t is a ℂ-algebra isomorphism of ℒ(T) onto ℂ[T]. Hence s∈S defines a homomorphism ℒ(T)→ℂ, namely s(ϕ)=∑t∈T ϕ(t)s(t). The formula (3.3.4) now takes the form (3.3.4') ωˆs(f)= s(f∼).

The group W0 acts on ℒ(T) by transposition: (wϕ)(t)=ϕ(w-1tw) (ϕ∈ℒ(T), t∈T, w∈W0). Let ℒ(T)w0 denote the subring of W0-invariant functions in ℒ(T). Then we have

The mapping f↦f∼ is a ℂ-algebra isomorphism of ℒ(G,K) onto ℒ(T)w0.

ℒ(G,K) is commutative.

Proof.

First of all, let us see that f∼∈ℒ(T)W0 whenever f∈ℒ(G,K). Let s∈S, w∈W0. Then s(f∼)=ωˆs (f)=ωˆws (f)=(ws) (f∼)=s(w-1f∼) by (3.3.3) and (3.3.4'). Hence f∼=w-1f∼ by (3.3.5).

Next, let f1,f2∈ℒ(G,K). Then s(f1*f2)∼ =ωˆs (f1*f2)= ωˆs(f1)· ωˆs(d2) = s(f∼1)· s(f∼2) = s(f∼1*f∼2) by (3.3.4'). Again by (3.3.5) we deduce that (f1*f2)∼=f∼1*f∼2, and hence f↦f∼ is a ℂ-algebra homomorphism.

It remains to show that the mapping f↦f∼ of ℒ(G,K) into ℒ(T)W0 is bijective. Since the characteristic functions χt (t∈T++) form a ℂ-basis of ℒ(G,K), it is enough to show that the χ∼t form a ℂ-basis of ℒ(T)W0. The last two parts of (2.6.11) were designed expressly for this purpose.

For each t∈T, the orbit of t under W0 (acting by inner automorphisms) has a unique representative in T++. Let ⟨t⟩ be the characteristic function of the W0-orbit of t. Then these functions ⟨t⟩, as t runs through T++, form a ℂ-basis of ℒ(T)W0. Hence we can write (3.3.8) χ∼t= ∑t′ χ∼t (t′) ⟨t′⟩ summed over t′∈T++.

We define a total ordering on T as follows. Let Π0={a1,…,al} be the set of simple roots of Σ0, arranged in some order. For each t∈T we have t(0)=∑i=1lmiai∨ with mi∈ℤ. We define (3.3.9) { t≥0⇔ the first non-zero mi  is positive, t1≥t2⇔ t1t2-1 ≥0. In particular, the elements of T+ are ≥0 for this ordering.

Now if t∈T++ and t′∈T we have ∫Kt′U- χt(g)dg= ∫U-χt (z′u-) Δ(z′)-1 du- for any z′∈ν-1(t′), =δ(t′)-12 χ∼t(t′). Hence we have (3.3.10) χ∼t(t′)= δ(t′)12 vol.(KtK∩Kt′U-). So if χ∼t(t′)≠0 it follows from (2.6.11)(3) that tt′-1∈T+ and hence that t≥t′. Again, from (2.6.11)(4) we have χ∼t(t)=δ(t)12. Consequently (3.3.8) now takes the form (3.3.8') χ∼t=δ (t)12 ⟨t⟩+ ∑t′<tt′∈T++ χ∼t(t′) ⟨t′⟩ from which it follows immediately (since δ(t) is never 0) that the χ∼t form a basis of ℒ(T)W0.

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(a) Consider the algebra ℒ(W,W0). Restriction of functions to the subgroup T defines an isomorphism ρ:ℒ(W,W0)→ℒ(T)W0. Hence (3.3.6) provides a canonical isomorphism of ℒ(G,K) onto ℒ(W,W0), namely f↦ρ-1(f∼). (The emphasis here is on the word 'canonical'.)

(b) If G is a universal Chevalley group (2.5) over a p-adic field 𝓀, there is
a much simpler proof that ℒ(G,K) is commutative. For there exists an
 nvolutory antiautomorphism i:G→G such that i(ua(ξ))=u-a(ξ) for all a∈Σ0 and ξ∈𝓀, and i(z)=z for all z∈Z. It follows that i(K)=K and that i preserves Haar measure. Now let f∈ℒ(G,K) and define fi=f∘i. Since i
 is an antiautomorphism, we have (f1*f2)i=f2i*f1i. On the other hand, i preserves all double cosets KzK and therefore f=fi for all f∈ℒ(G,K). Hence f1*f2=f2*f1.

The same argument will work whenever G has an antiautomorphism i such that i(Ua+r)=U-a+r for all a∈Σ0 and r∈ℤ, and i(z)∈zH for all z∈Z. This will be the case, for example, whenever the central inversion w0:x↦-x is in the Weyl group W0. For then we may take i(g)=n0g-1n0-1, where n0∈ν-1(w0).

(c)From (3.3.8') it follows that the image of ℋ(G,K) in ℒ(T)W0 under
 f↦f∼ is the ℤ-module spanned by the elements δ(t)12⟨t⟩ with t∈T++
(because δ(t′)-12χ∼t(t′)∈ℤ by (3.3.10)). If Σ0=Σ1, then δ(t)12∈ℤ by (3.2.7), hence in this case the isomorphism of ℒ(G,K) onto ℒ(W,W0) in (a) above
embeds ℋ(G,K) in ℋ(W,W0), the Hecke ring of W relative to W0.

(1) Every zonal spherical function ω on G relative to K is equal to ωs for some s∈S=Hom(T,ℂ*).
(2) ωs=ωs′⇔s′=ws for some w∈W0.

Proof.

(1) The mapping f∼↦ωˆ(f) is a ℂ-algebra homomorphism ℒ(T)W0→ℂ, which since ℒ(T) is integral over ℒ(T)W0 can be extended to a homomorphism ℒ(T)→ℂ. This in turn defines by restriction a homomorphism s:T→ℂ*, and we have ωˆ(f)=s(f∼)=ωˆs(f) for f∈ℒ(G,K). Hence ωˆ=ωˆs and therefore ω=ωs by (1.7).

(2) Suppose that ωs=ωs′. Then s and s′ agree on ℒ(T)W0, by (3.3.4'), and therefore their kernels m, m′, say, are maximal ideals of ℒ(T) lying over the same maximal ideal of ℒ(T)W0. By a well-known theorem of commutative algebra (see for example [AMa1969], Chapter V, Ex. 13) there exists w∈W0 transforming m into m′. Hence s′=ws.

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Since ℂ*≅ℝ×(ℝ/ℤ) (the isomorphism being re2πiθ↦(log r,θ)) we have S=Hom(T,ℂ*)≅Hom(T,ℝ)×Hom(T,ℝ/ℤ). Now Hom(T,ℝ) can be identified with A*: if λ∈Hom(T,ℝ), the corresponding element of A* is the linear form which maps t(0) to λ(t) for all t∈T. This identification induces an identification of Hom(T,ℝ/ℤ) with A*/L, where (as in (2.5)) L is the lattice of linear forms u on A such that u(a∨)∈ℤ for all a∈Σ0. Hence the space Ω of z.s.f. may be identified with the orbit space (A*×(A*/L))/W0. Alternatively, Ω may be identified with S/W0, the affine algebraic variety whose coordinate ring is ℒ(T)W0≅ℂ[T]W0.

Let t1,…,tm be a set of generators of the semigroup T++. Then ℋ(G,K)=ℤ[χt1,…,χtm]. (Of course, in general the χti will not be algebraically independent.)

Proof.

For each t∈T++ let θt=δ (t)12 ⟨t⟩ so that the image of ℋ(G,K) under f↦f∼ is the ℤ-module freely generated by the θt, by (3.3.11)(c). Let Mt=∑t′<tℤθt′. From (3.3.8') we have χ∼t≡θt (mod Mt).

Also θt1* θt2≡ θt1t2  (mod Mt1t2). For θt1*θt2-θt1t2 is a sum of terms of the form δ(t1t2)12 δ(t3)-12 θts with t3=t1′t2′∈T++ and t1′=w1t1w1-1, t2′=w2t2w2-1 (w1,w2∈W0) and either t1′≠t1 or t2′≠t2. By (3.2.8) the coefficient δ(t1t2)12δ(t3)-12 is a rational integer, and we have t3<t1t2.

Hence if t=∏i=1mtiμi∈T++ it follows that χ∼t≡θt≡ ∏i=1m θtiμi≡ ∏i=1m χ∼tiμi  (mod Mt) and so, by induction on t, that χ∼t∈ℤ[χ∼t1,…,χ∼tm]. Hence χt∈ℤ[χt1,…,χtm].

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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.

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