Factorization of cosine functions on compact connected groups (Q2457743)

In her paper, the author investigates the cosine functional equation (or as it is also termed: d'Alembert's equation) on compact connected groups. According to the main result, if a compact connected group has direct factors isomorphic to SU(2), then non-classical cosine functions exist on the group, and each of them factors trough one of these direct factors; otherwise, every cosine function is classical. First the author proves this theorem on simple, simply connected Lie groups, then on the direct product of this kind of groups; in the third step, on compact connected Lie groups and, at last, in the general case. As applications, the cases of \(U(n)\), \(\text{SO}(n)\) and \(O(n)\) are also studied. The main tools of the proofs are based on the structure theorem of compact connected groups and the structure theory of semisimple Lie groups. Some techniques on functional equations are also applied.