On the non-vanishing of theta liftings of tempered representations of \(U(p,q)\) (Q2295466)

In this paper, the author studies theta liftings for the unitary dual pairs \((U(p, q),U(r, s))\). The irreducible representations of \(U(p,q)\) may be classified via the Local Langlands Correspondence. Given a tempered representation \(\pi\) of \(U(p,q)\), the author determines when its theta lift to \(U(r,s)\) is nonzero in terms of this classification. More precisely, if \(\pi\) is a discrete series representation of \(U(p,q)\) with given Harish-Chandra parameter \(\lambda\), he determines specific conditions in terms of \(\lambda\) for the lift to \(U(r,s)\) to be nonzero. The proof depends on the local Gan-Gross-Prasad (GGP) conjecture in terms of Harish-Chandra parameters, established by \textit{H. He} [Invent. Math. 209, No. 3, 837--884 (2017; Zbl 1375.22009)]. The author also establishes a non-vanishing result for other tempered representations in terms of their \(L\)-parameters. Here the local GGP conjecture is not known in full, and the author's result is conditional. Key elements of the proof include the use of the local GGP conjecture, seesaw identities, the almost equal rank cases established by \textit{A. Paul} [J. Funct. Anal. 159, No. 2, 384--431 (1998; Zbl 0924.22012); Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 128, No. 10, 3129--3136 (2000; Zbl 0956.22008)]), study of the non-vanishing of theta lifts of one-dimensional representations, and the Conservation Relation of \textit{B. Sun} and \textit{C.-B. Zhu} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 28, No. 4, 939--983 (2015; Zbl 1321.22017)]. An Appendix explains the relation between Harish-Chandra parameters for discrete series representations of unitary groups and \(L\)-parameters. A similar question was addressed in the non-archimedean case by the author and \textit{W. T. Gan} [Invent. Math. 210, No. 2, 341--415 (2017; Zbl 1394.11044)]. As the author points out, the conditions for general tempered representations obtained here resemble the non-vanishing results in the non-archimedean case.