Observability on noncompact symmetric spaces (Q4386867)

Let \(X\) be a differentiable manifold and \(D\) a differential operator on \(X\). One considers the evolution equation \[ D_xf(x,t)+ {\partial\over \partial t}f(x,t)=0 \] for \(x\in X\), \(t\geq 0\) and tries to recover the initial data \(f(x,0)\) approximately from a finite number of observations \(f(x_i,t_0)\) at some observation time \(t_0>0\). In the case where \(X\) is a compact Riemannian homogeneous space and \(D\) an invariant differential operator a precise formulation of the problem in terms of harmonic analysis has been given previously by the author and D. Wallace. The present paper deals with the case when \(X\) is a noncompact Riemannian symmetric space. The author explains how the Plancherel Theorem is in this case a combination of Euclidean and compact situations and he hints at the possibility to combine the corresponding methods in order to study observability.