The flat horocycle transform for a symmetric space (Q1188445)

Let \(X= G/K\) be a symmetric space of noncompact type of dimension \(n\) and rank \(l\). In the tangent space \(X_0\) to \(X\) at the origin \(0= \{K\}\) there is singled out an \(n\)-dimensional family \(\Xi_0\) of \((n- l)\)-dimensional affine planes, the horocycle planes. They are permuted transitively by the Cartan motion group \(G_0\) which is generated by the isotropy action of \(K\) on \(X_0\) and the translations in \(X_0\). The Radon transform for the pair \((X_0, \Xi_0)\) (the flat horocycle transform) associates to a function \(f\) on \(X_0\) the function \(\widehat f\) on \(\Xi_0\) given by \[ \widehat f(\xi)= \int_\xi f(Y) dm(Y),\qquad \xi\in \Xi_0,\tag{1} \] \(dm\) being the Euclidean measure on \(\xi\). Using the Fourier transform on \(X_0\) the transform (1) can readily be inverted as shown by \textit{S. G. Gindikin} [Funkts. Anal. Prilozh. 1, 32-37 (1967; Zbl 0184.25304)]. We prove a support theorem for (1) and determine ranges for (1) and its dual transform. The principal tools are the tangent space analysis in [the author, Adv. Math. 36, 297-323 (1980; Zbl 0441.53040)] and some new results on the Fourier transform on \(X_0\) established in Section 3. A transform generalizing (1) (replacing \(dm\) by a rotation-invariant measure) has been considered by \textit{J. Orloff} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 318, 581-600 (1990; Zbl 0715.44002)]. He obtained support and invertibility results for the case when the rank \(l\) is 1.