\(L_ 2\)-lower bounds for a special class of random walks (Q1346977)

Let \(K\) be a compact connected subgroup of a compact connected Lie group \(G\). Moreover, let \(\nu\) be the uniform distribution on the compactum \(\{gkg^{-1} : k \in K, g\in G\} \subset G\). The purpose of this paper is to derive general lower bound for the number \(k\) of steps such that the \(k\)-fold convolution power \(\nu^ k\) of \(\nu\) has an \(L_ 2\)- density with respect to the Haar measure \(\lambda\) of \(G\). This is motivated by results of Diaconis and others; they study distances of the type \(\| \nu^ k - \lambda\|_ 2\) in \(L_ 2(G)\) as this in particular leads to upper bounds for the convergence with respect to the total variation norm. The proofs of the lower bounds are heavily based on results from Lie theory and representation theory; in particular, an asymptotic result of \textit{G. J. Heckman} [Invent. Math. 67, 333-356 (1982; Zbl 0497.22006)] is used. The paper is completed by some applications to random rotations and random complex reflections.