Spectral analysis for convolution operators on locally compact groups (Q2466526)

Let \(X\) be a locally compact group with identity. The convolution operator \(H_\mu\), \(\mu \in M(X)\), acting on the Hilbert space \(H = L_2(X)\) is defined by \(H_\mu f := \mu \ast f\), \(f \in H\), where \((\mu \ast f)(x)=\int_X d\mu(y)f(y^{-1}x)\) for a.e. \(x \in X\). The case \(\mu=\chi_S\), the characteristic function of a compact generating subset \(S\), leads to Hecke operators associated to the left regular representation. The authors characterize the spectrum of \(H_\mu\) by constructing auxiliary operators whose kernels contain the pure point and singular subspaces of \(H_\mu\). The proofs rely on a modification of a positive commutator technique called the method of the weakly conjugate operator. This method is an unbounded version of the Kato--Putnam theorem (see Theorem XIII.28 of \textit{M. Reed} and \textit{B. Simon} [Methods of modern mathematical physics. IV: Analysis of operators. New York-San Francisco-London: Academic Press (1978; Zbl 0401.47001)]). They also exploit commutativity in a non-commutative setting by using central measures which are the elements of the center of the convolution Banach \(*\)-algebra \(M(X)\). Several useful examples are given.