On operator-valued spherical functions (Q2484251)

The aim of the paper is to generalize the so-called cosine functional equation (or d'Alembert equation) \[ {f(x+y)+f(x-y)\over 2} = f(x)f(y) \] within the following setting. Let \((G,+)\) be an abelian topological group and let \(K\) be a compact transformation group acting on \(G\) by automorphisms of \(G\). Writing the action by \(k\in K\) on \(x\in G\) by \(k\cdot x\) and denoting by \(dk\) the normalized Haar measure on \(K\), a generalization of the cosine equation reads as \[ \int_K f(x+k\cdot y)dk = f(x)f(y),\qquad x,y\in G, \] where \(f\in C(G)\) is the unknown. The main result of the paper then reads as follows. Let \(G\) further satisfy the second axiom of countability and let \(H\) be a complex Hilbert space. Let \(\Phi:G\to B(X)\) be a weakly continuous solution of the cosine functional equation \[ \int_K \Phi(x+k\cdot y)dk = \Phi(x)\Phi(y),\qquad x,y\in G,\;\Phi(e)=I, \] where \(\Phi(x)\) is normal for every \(x\in G\) and \(\sup\{\| \Phi(x)\| \,:\, x\in G\}<\infty\). Then there exists a there exists a strongly continuous unitary representation \(U\) of \(G\) on \(H\) such that \( \Phi= \int_K k\cdot U dk. \) In particular, \(\Phi(x)^* = \Phi(x^{-1})\) and \(\Phi\) is strongly continuous. Furthermore, the author shows that, improving the conditions on \(G\) and the action of \(K\), the normality condition on \(\Phi\) can be dropped because there exists an equivalent inner product such that \(\Phi(x)\) will become a normal operator for every \(x\in G\).