On the dual of a commutative signed hypergroup (Q1911207)

Several procedures like taking double cosets or orbits lead canonically from groups to hypergroups in the sense of Dunkl, Jewett and Spectro where the associated measure algebras and probability preserving. There exist, however, prominent examples of convolution algebras which have all essential properties of a hypergroup and which are not probability preserving. Examples are provided, for instance, by Laguerre convolutions on \([0, \infty[\), which are related to Heisenberg groups, and which were studied by E. Görlich, T. Koornwinder, C. Markett, K. Stempak, and others. Examples of that kind recently led to an axiomatic framework of signed hypergroups in \textit{M. Rösler} [Convolution algebras which are not necessarily probability preserving, Contemp. Math. 183, 299-318 (1995; Zbl 0836.43012)] and \textit{K. A. Ross} [Signed hypergroups -- a survey, Contemp. Math. 183, 319-329 (1995; Zbl 0828.43007)]. The purpose of the paper under review is to continue harmonic analysis on commutative signed hypergroups. In particular, some results on the dual spaces and a generalized Plancherel theorem for positive definite measures in the spirit of R. Godement are given. The Plancherel theorem includes the existence of the usual Plancherel measure \(\pi\) on \(\widehat K\) where it may be possible that \(\text{supp} \pi \neq \widehat K\) holds (similar to commutative hypergroups, but different to lca groups). Based on ideas of A. Hulanicki, M. Vogel, and the reviewer, it is shown that subexponential growth of the underlying signed hypergroup implies \(\text{supp} \pi = \widehat K\). This criterion is applied then to the signed Laguerre hypergroups \(K\) on \([0, \infty[\) in order to show \(\widehat K \simeq \mathbb{N}_0\). It should be finally mentioned that recently further relevant signed hypergroup structures were found in particular on \(\mathbb{R}\) (which are related to Bessel functions and Dunkl operators) as well as on \([0, \infty[\) (which are related to Jacobi functions and twisted quotients of the Gelfand pairs \((U(n), U(n - 1)))\). For the first ones see \textit{M. Rösker} [Bessel-type signed hypergroups on \(\mathbb{R}\), in: Probability measures on groups and related structures. XI. Ed.: H. Heyer. World Scientific, 292-304 (1995)].