Restriction problem for anisotropic principal series of free groups (Q1923690)

Let \(\Gamma_0\) be a finitely generated free group, and \(\Omega\) its natural boundary, the space of ends. The ``anisotropic principal series'' of irreducible representations of \(\Gamma_0\) on \(L^2(\Omega)\) (relative to an appropriately chosen measure on \(\Omega)\), which was described by \textit{A. Figà-Talamanca} and the second-named author [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 531, 68 p. (1994; Zbl 0836.43019)], is described. The restriction to a cofinite subgroup \(\Gamma\) of a representation of this series is examined. In most cases the restriction is irreducible, though in some cases it splits as a sum of two irreducible components. The concept of ``boundary realization'', i.e., a representation of the crossed product \(C^*\)-algebra \(\Gamma\ltimes C(\Omega)\), is introduced, and it is shown that the restrictions to \(\Gamma\) of the anisotropic principal series representations have either two or one distinct extensions to \(\Gamma\ltimes C(\Omega)\), as \(\pi|_\Gamma\) has one or two components. -- Many of the proofs depend on results in the unpublished preprint ``Free group representations. Duplicity on the boundary'' of the second-named author.