Splitting metaplectic covers of dual reductive pairs (Q1335167)

Let \(F\) be a local field other than \(\mathbb{C}\). The symplectic group \(Sp (n,F)\) has a unique nontrivial twofold central extension, which by the inclusion of \(\{\pm 1\}\) into the unit circle \(\mathbb{C}^1\) gives an exact sequence \[ 1 \to \mathbb{C}^1 \to Mp (n,F) \to Sp (n,F) \to 1. \] The metaplectic group \(Mp (n,F)\) is the natural domain of the local Weil representation which gives representation theoretic meaning to theta correspondences of dual reductive pairs, i.e. subgroups \(G,G'\) of \(Sp (n,F)\), each the full centralizer of the other. It frequently happens that the above sequence splits when restricted to \(GG'\). For the investigation of the local theta correspondence it sometimes is important to have an explicit splitting at hand. In the present paper there are given explicit splittings whenever they exist. It is a properly written utilitarian note with a lot of case by case considerations. It will be of great use in the further study of local theta correspondences.