Factorization of period integrals. (Q5931958)

Let \(E/F\) be a quadratic extension of number fields such that all real places of \(F\) split in \(E\). Let \(\pi\) be an irreducible cuspidal automorphic representation of \(G = \text{GL}(3,E_{\mathbb A})\) which is distinguished with respect to \(H = \text{U}(3)\), i.e. the period integral on \(\pi\) relative to \(H\) is not identically zero. The author shows that this linear form is a tensor product of local linear forms. This is a consequence of the relative trace formula for \(G\) and \(H\). Locally at a non-split place, the space of \(H_v\)-invariant linear forms on \(\pi_v\) can have dimension \(> 1\). For a quadratic extension \(E/F\) of non-archimedean local fields the author conjectures and proves in some cases, that the dimension of the space of \(\text{U}(3)\)-invariant linear forms on an irreducible representation \(\pi\) of \(\text{GL}(3,E)\) is equal to the number of irreducible representations of \(\text{GL}(3,F)\) which have \(\pi\) as base change. For period integrals on non-cuspidal automorphic representations see \textit{E. M. Lapid} and \textit{J. D. Rogawski} [Duke Math. J. 120, 153--226 (2003; Zbl 1037.11033)].