\(L^ p\)-\(L^ q\) estimates for functions of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on noncompact symmetric spaces. I (Q1320629)

Let \(\mathcal L\) be the Laplace-Beltrami operator of a Riemannian symmetric space \(X = G/K\) of the non compact type. One considers several functions of \(\mathcal L\) defined via the \(L^ 2\)-spectral theory: \[ {\mathcal R}^ \alpha_ \theta = ({\mathcal L} - \theta b)^{-\alpha/2},\quad {\mathcal S}^ \alpha_ \theta = ({\mathcal L} - \theta b)^{-\alpha/2} e^{i({\mathcal L} - \theta b)}, \quad {\mathcal H}_{t,\theta} = e^{-t({\mathcal L} - \theta b)}, \] where \(b\) is the bottom of the \(L^ 2\)-spectrum of \(\mathcal L\), \(b = \langle \rho,\rho \rangle\), \(\rho\) being the half sum of the positive roots. After a detailed survey of previous results about \(L^ p\)-\(L^ q\)- estimates for these operators, the authors present several new results and improvements. Among others, one proves that, if \(0 \leq \theta < 1\), \(1 \leq p \leq \infty\), and if \(\alpha = a + ia'\), \(a \geq 0\), the operator \({\mathcal R}^ \alpha_ \theta\) is bounded on \(L^ p(X)\) if and only if one of the following conditions holds: (i) \(\alpha = 0\), (ii) \(a = 0\), \(a' \neq 0\), \(1 < p < \infty\), \(p_ \theta \leq p \leq p_ \theta'\), (iii) \(a > 0\) and \(p_ \theta < p < p_ \theta'\), where \(p_ \theta = 2/(1 + (1 - \theta)^{1/2})\), and \(p_ \theta'\) is conjugate to \(p_ \theta\). If \(0 \leq \theta < 1\) and \(a \geq 0\), the operator \({\mathcal S}^ \alpha_ \theta\) is bounded from \(L^ p(X)\) to \(L^ q(X)\) if and only if one of the following conditions holds (i) \(a = 0\) and \(p = q = 2\), (ii) \(a > 0\), \(p = 2\), \(q \in I_ a\), (iii) \(a > 0\), \(q = 2\), \(p' \in I_ a\), (iv) \(1 \leq p < 2 < q \leq \infty\), where \(I_ a = [2,2n/(n - 2a)]\) if \(0 \leq a < n/2\), \([2,\infty[\) if \(a = n/2\), and \([2,\infty]\) if \(a > n/2\) (\(n = \dim X\)). The proofs use real and complex interpolation, transference, and spherical harmonic analysis on Riemannian symmetric spaces, in particular one uses estimates for the \(c\)-function and the spherical functions.