On Lie algebras of \(K\)-invariant functions (Q1029303)

Gelfand pairs have been studied by a number of authors during the past three to four decades. Let \(G\) be a locally compact group and \(K\) be a compact subgroup of \(\Aut (G)\). Let \((G)\) be the algebra of \(K\)-invariant integrable functions on \(G\) and \(\xi 1K (G)\) be the algebra of \(K\)-invariant compactly supported distributions on \(G\). Then it is well known that \((G,K)\) is a Gelfand pair if \((G)\) is a commutative algebra under convolution. The authors prove the interesting result that if \(G\) is a connected Lie group and K is a compact subgroup of \(\Aut (G)\), then \((G)\) is Lie nilpotent with step \(p\) if and only if \(\xi 1K (G)\) is Lie nilpotent with step \(p\). Using this theorem and Theorem 1.12 from a paper by C. Benson, J. Jenkins and G. Ratcliff, the authors establish the criterion that \((G,K)\) is a Gelfand pair if and only if \((G)\) is Lie nilpotent.