No label defined (Q4497331)

The nonlinear groups of the title of this paper are metaplectic covers of linear groups over local fields. The author analyses the connection between two different approaches to classifying the representations of these groups. One approach, associated with the name of Howe, is based on the so-called theta correspondence between dual pairs. This method is quite developed but its relationship to the Langlands' programme is still unclear. It is also restricted to covers of order two and then only for certain groups. The other approach is based on the comparison of characters and, necessarily, on trace-formula methods. The author first describes the present state of knowledge, and in particular, the formulation of the generalized Shimura correspondence itself. This involves distinct groups, as was clarified by \textit{G. Savin} [Math. Ann. 280, 185-190 (1988; Zbl 0644.22007)], and the author combines this work with the notions of endoscopy. In the case of the two-fold cover of \(Sp(2n,F)\), \(F\) a local field of characteristic 0, the author conjectures a very simple description of the theta correspondence with \(SO(2n+1, F)\) at the level of characters. He proves some results which lend credence to the conjecture. He also discusses the delicate case of covers of \(SL(n,F)\) and the relation to \(\text{PGL} (n,F)\). For the entire collection see [Zbl 0941.00016].