The Fourier transform of Harish-Chandra's \(c\)-function and inversion of the Abel transform (Q1078792)

Let \(X\) be a symmetric space of the noncompact type. The inversion of the Abel transform on \(X\) can be expressed in terms of the dual Abel transform and a certain integro-differential operator which corresponds to the Euclidean Fourier transform of \(| c(\lambda)|^{-2}\), where\( c(\lambda)\) denotes Harish-Chandra's \(c\)-function. For the normal real forms of the classical symmetric spaces \textit{S. G. Gindikin} and \textit{F. I. Karpelevich} [Sel. Math. Sov. 1, 169--184 (1981); translation from Pamyati N. G. Chebotareva, Izd. Kazan. Univ., 30--43 (1964; Zbl 0505.53032)] calculated the Fourier transform of \(| c(\lambda)|^{-2}\). They used a case by case method based on the addition formula for the hyperbolic tangent and resulting in a reduction to the rank-one case. In this paper a uniform treatment of all normal real forms is given. To a large extent this method does not depend on classification. For arbitrary symmetric spaces of the noncompact type the calculation of the Fourier transform of \(| c(\lambda)|^{-2}\) can then be reduced to the case of the normal real forms. The results are also applied to the associated Cartan motion group.