The trace formula for the coverings of connected reductive groups. IV: Invariant distributions (Q486845)

This paper is the final part of the author's impressive series [J. Reine Angew. Math. 686, 37--109 (2014; Zbl 1295.22027); Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 45, No. 5, 787--859 (2012; Zbl 1330.11037); Math. Ann. 356, No. 3, 1029--1064 (2013; Zbl 1330.11038)], in which the invariant trace formula of Arthur is generalized to an \(m\)-fold central extension of \(G(\mathbb{A})\), where \(G\) is a connected reductive algebraic group defined over a number field \(F\), and \(\mathbb{A}\) is the ring of adèles of \(F\). The final formula in such generality is proved subject to the technical hypothesis that the invariant Paley-Wiener theorem holds at real places. For some important cases, such as central extensions of the general linear group \(\mathrm{GL}(n,\mathbb{R})\) and the metaplectic group, that is, the two-fold central extension of the symplectic group \(\mathrm{Sp}(2n,\mathbb{R})\), it is checked that the hypothesis holds. The importance of the invariant trace formula is in that it is a step towards the stabilization of the trace formula, and the stable trace formula plays the key role in the endoscopic classification of automorphic representations [\textit{J. Arthur}, The endoscopic classification of representations. Orthogonal and symplectic groups. Colloquium Publications 61. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (2013; Zbl 1310.22014); \textit{C. P. Mok}, Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 1108 (2015; Zbl 1316.22018)]. The generalization to finite central extensions of reductive groups is important, because they appear naturally in the arithmetic considerations, for instance, in modular forms of half-integral weight, theta correspondence, and multiple Dirichlet series. The invariant trace formula for connected reductive groups over a number field is finally established in [\textit{J. Arthur}, J. Am. Math. Soc. 1, No. 2, 323--383 (1988; Zbl 0682.10021), J. Am. Math. Soc. 1, No. 3, 501--554 (1988; Zbl 0667.10019)]. However, more recently, \textit{J. Arthur} [J. Inst. Math. Jussieu 1, No. 2, 175--277 (2002; Zbl 1040.11038)] provided another approach to obtain the invariant trace formula with a view toward the stable trace formula. This latter approach is followed in the present paper and the serious obstacles of working with a central extension are overcome.