Lévy-Khinchin formula for the infinite symmetric group (Q1936615)

A function \(f\) on a group \(G\) is said to be a positive type function if, for any \(g_1, g_2, \dotsc, g_n\in G\) and \(c_1, c_2, \dotsc, c_n\in \mathbb{C}\) \[ \sum_{i, j=1}^n c_i \overline{c_j} f(g_i^{-1}g_j)\geq 0. \] Also, a function \(\psi\) on \(G\) is said to be a negative type function if \(\psi(e)\geq 0\), \(\psi(g^{-1})=\overline{\psi(g)}\) for all \(g\in G\) and \[ \sum_{i, j=1}^n c_i \overline{c_j}\psi(g_i g_j^{-1})\leq 0 \] for all \(g_1, g_2, \dotsc, g_n\in G\), \(c_1, c_2, \dotsc, c_n\in \mathbb C\) such that \(\sum_{i=1}^n c_i=0\) (\(e\) is the identity element of \(G\)). If a function \(f\) is of positive type, then the function \(\psi(g):=f(e)-f(g)\) is of negative type. Also, a function \(\psi\) is of negative type if and only if \(\psi(e)\geq 0\) and \(e^{-t\psi}\) is of positive type for all \(t\geq 0\). The integral representations of positive type functions are given by Bochner's theorem for \(G=\mathbb{R}^{n}\). Also, for \(G=\mathbb{R}^{n}\), integral representations of negative type functions are given by the Lévy-Khinchin formula. For the case of a Gelfand pair \((G, K)\), integral representations of \(K\)-bi-invariant continuous, real valued, negative type functions were given by \textit{J. Faraut} and \textit{K. Harzallah} [Ann. Inst. Fourier 24, No. 3, 171--217 (1974; Zbl 0265.43013)]. In the paper under review, the author considers the problem for the infinite symmetric group which is the inductive limit of an increasing sequence of symmetric groups. He provides an integral representation of central functions of negative type on the group.