Analytic properties of automorphic \(L\)-functions (Q4040223)

This report is concerned with the meromorphic continuation and the functional equation of automorphic \(L\)-functions. It gives a short and clear survey of the methods used by several mathematicians to study the problem. The authors start with an exposition of Hecke theory for \(\mathrm{GL}(2)\). For reductive groups \(G\) we have Langland's method which consists in evaluating the constant term of an Eisenstein series on a reductive group \(H\) which contains \(G\) as Levi component of a maximal parabolic subgroup. This method has been taken up by Shahidi. He computes Fourier coefficients of Eisenstein series on \(H\). Here Whittaker models are used (i.e. one considers generic automorphic representations). Shahidi even proved that, in the cases considered, the \(L\)-function has only finitely many poles in the plane [see \textit{F. Shahidi}, Ann. Math. (2) 127, No. 3, 547--584 (1988; Zbl 0654.10029), see the following review]. A different approach is the construction of \(L\)-functions by means of zeta-integrals (``Tate theory''). The method was developed for \(\mathrm{GL}(n)\) by Godement and Jacquet and later generalized by Piatetski-Shapiro and Rallis. As this method does not make use of Whittaker models, it can be applied more generally than the other main method. Several applications and variants of these methods are discussed: integrals of Rankin-Selberg type, the work of Shimura, Hecke theory for \(\mathrm{GL}(n)\) (in connection with converse theorems), \(L\)-functions for \(\mathrm{GL}(n)\times \mathrm{GL}(m)\) (and \(G\times \mathrm{GL}(n))\). Also, concrete examples are treated. The topics are treated in chronological order. There is a historical comment to be made on the appendix to section (1.2) in chapter II. There Jacquet's theory for \(\mathrm{GL}(2)\times\mathrm{GL}(2)\) is discussed. The Eisenstein series used by Jacquet was studied long before by \textit{R. Godement} [Sémin. Bourbaki 17 (1964/65), Exp. No. 278, 26 p. (1966; Zbl 0226.20047)].