The local converse theorem for \(\widetilde{\mathrm{Sp}}_{2n}\) (Q6880107)

Let \(F\) be a \(p\)-adic field and let \(G\) be a quasi-split reductive group over \(F\). Let \(n\) be the rank of \(G\). Let \(\psi\) be a generic character of a maximal unipotent subgroup of \(G(F)\). Let \(\pi\) be a \(\psi\)-generic irreducible smooth representation of \(G(F)\). The local converse problem asks if one can determine the representation \(\pi\) uniquely by the collection of twisted local \(\gamma\)-factors \(\gamma(s, \pi \times \tau, \psi)\), with \(\tau\) being representations on \(\mathrm{GL}_{m}, 1 \leq m <n\). In the paper under review, the author establishes the local converse problem for metaplectic groups under a mild assumption on the characteristic of the base field and that the \(\gamma\)-factors satisfy a list of natural properties.\N\NThe local \(\gamma\)-factors can be defined using several approaches. One is the Langlands-Shahidi method; the other one relies on the Rankin-Selberg type integrals. It is shown that the two approaches indeed give the same definition. (We should note that the local \(\gamma\)-factors are not properly defined when \(\mathrm{char}(F)=p\). The author makes it as a working hypothesis.) The proof is based on the local theta correspondence so that the desired result can be translated to the case of odd orthogonal groups, which was already established.\N\NBesides being an interesting question in representation, the local converse theorem also found many applications in the theory of automorphic representations. As corollaries of the main result, the author also proves stability of local \(\gamma\)-factors for metaplectic groups, that is, the \(\gamma\)-factor \(\gamma(s, \pi \times \chi, \psi)\) is independent of \(\pi\) if the conductor of a character \(\chi\) is sufficiently ramified. Another consequence is a rigidity theorem for metaplectic groups. This states that a gloabl cuspidal automorphic representation is determined by its local components at almost all local places.