A Rankin-Selberg integral for the adjoint \(L\)-function of \(\text{Sp}_ 4\) (Q1817280)

This paper presents a Rankin-Selberg integral for a new \(L\)-function. Let \(Sp_4\) be the algebraic group of \(4\times 4\) symplectic matrices. The connected \(L\)-group is \(SO_5({\mathbb{C}})\). Let \(\text{Ad}\) denote the adjoint representation of \(SO_5({\mathbb{C}})\), a ten-dimensional irreducible representation. Let \(\pi\) be a cuspidal automorphic representation of \(Sp_4({\mathbb{A}})\), where \({\mathbb{A}}\) is the adele ring of a global field \(F\). Then the Langlands conjectures imply that there should be a degree ten Euler product \(L(s,\pi,\text{Ad})\) with meromorphic continuation and functional equation attached to this data. Suppose that \(\pi\) is generic. In this paper, the author constructs a Rankin-Selberg integral for this \(L\)-function, and analyzes its behavior at the good places. Another approach to the study of automorphic \(L\)-functions, initiated by \textit{R. P. Langlands} [Euler Products, Yale Mathematical Monographs 1 (1971; Zbl 0231.20016)] and carried out in detail by \textit{F. Shahidi} [Ann. Math., II. Ser. 127, No. 3, 547-584 (1988; Zbl 0654.10029) and other work by the same author], is based on the study of the Whittaker coefficients of Eisenstein series. This study yields a class of \(L\)-functions which can be proved to be meromorphic with functional equation. Part of the significance of this paper is that the \(L\)-function studied is not accessible by the Langlands-Shahidi method. To give his integral, the author defines an Eisenstein series \(E_s\) on the double cover of the Spin group \(Spin_9\). This Eisenstein series is constructed by inducing up the theta function on the double cover of \(GL_3\). There is a natural embedding of \(Sp_4\) into the double cover of \(Spin_9\), and also a unipotent subgroup \(U\) which maps homomorphically onto the Heisenberg group in 5 variables. The integral studied is obtained by restricting \(E_s\) to \(USp_4\), and integrating this restriction against the product of a theta function on the double cover of \(Sp_4\) and a function in the space of \(\pi\). (Another Rankin-Selberg integral which is based on integration over a unipotent subgroup of Heisenberg type -- representing the fourth symmetric power \(L\)-function on \(GL_2\) -- was given by the author in [Isr. J. Math. 92, 157-184 (1995; Zbl 0847.11027)]). The integral is presented in the first section, and shown to be Eulerian in the second. In the third section of the paper, the local computation is carried out at the places for which all data is unramified. This computation uses information about the structure of the symmetric algebra of the adjoint representation of \(SO_5({\mathbb{C}})\).