A generalized Harish-Chandra method of descent for reductive Lie algebras (Q2642076)

Let \(G\) be a connected reductive Lie group and \(M\) a connected reductive subgroup of \(G\) with Lie algebras \(\mathfrak g\) and \(\mathfrak m\) respectively. In harmonic analysis, the method of descent passing from \(G\) to \(M\) has played a fundamental role and was introduced by Harish-Chandra. Assume that the ranks of \(\mathfrak g\) and \(\mathfrak m\) are equal. This paper introduces a transfer from the space of orbital integrals of \(\mathfrak m\) to the space of orbital integrals of \(\mathfrak g\). Then the transpose of this transfer can be viewed as a restriction of the space of \(G\)-invariant distributions of \(\mathfrak g\) to the space of \(M\)-invariant distributions of \(\mathfrak m\). This paper proves that this map coincides with the Harish-Chandra descent up to a constant and hence extends the descent of Harish-Chandra. It also obtains a generalization of the radial component theorem of Harish-Chandra.