A spectral gap theorem in SU\((d)\) (Q713954)

Let \(g_1,\dots ,g_k\), \(k\geq 2\), be a finite set of matrices from \(SU(d)\), \(d\geq 2\). The authors study the spectral property of the averaging (or Hecke) operator \[ (z_{g_1,\dots ,g_k}f)(x)=\sum_{j=1}^k (f(g_jx)+f(g_j^{-1}x)) \] on \(L_2(SU(d))\). Let \(\lambda_1(z_{g_1,\dots ,g_k})\) denote the supremum of the eigenvalues of \(z\) on the orthogonal complement of constant functions. The spectral gap property is the inequality \(\lambda_1(z_{g_1,\dots ,g_k})<2k\). The authors prove that the spectral gap property holds if the matrices \(g_1,\dots ,g_k\) have algebraic entries and generate a dense subgroup in \(SU(d)\). For \(d=2\), this result was proved in their earlier paper [Invent. Math. 171, No. 1, 83--121 (2008; Zbl 1135.22010)] where various applications were also discussed.