A Plancherel formula for representative functions on semisimple Lie groups (Q2844755)

A Plancherel formula is obtained for the case of a noncompact and semisimple Lie group \(G\). The analysis is completed for the set \(\mathbb R(G)\) of representative functions on \(G\). A function \(f:G \rightarrow C\) is considered representative if it lies in the span of the matrix coefficients for a finite-dimensional representation of \(G\). Equivalently, \(f\) is representative if its span under all left (equivalently right) translations by elements of \(G\) is finite dimensional. A representative function is a finite sum of matrix coefficients for finite dimensional representations. Since the matrix coefficients are not necessarily square-integrable for irreducible finite-dimensional representations of \(G\), an alternative to the Schur orthogonality relations is given using invariant differential operators. A convolution operator is defined, the corresponding operator analysis is presented and finally the Plancherel formula is obtained in this context. The paper is self-consistent, with definitions and detailed proofs of the stated theorems.