Harmonic Analysis in One-Parameter Metabelian Nilmanifolds

Abstract

Let $G$ be a connected, simply connected one-parameter metabelian nilpotent Lie group, that means, the corresponding Lie algebra has a one-codimensional abelian subalgebra. In this article we show that $G$ contains a discrete cocompact subgroup. Given a discrete cocompact subgroup $\Gamma$ of $G$, we define the quasi-regular representation $\tau = {\rm ind}_\Gamma^G 1$ of $G$. The basic problem considered in this paper concerns the decomposition of $\tau$ into irreducibles. We give an orbital description of the spectrum, the multiplicity function and we construct an explicit intertwining operator between $\tau$ and its desintegration without considering multiplicities. Finally, unlike the Moore inductive algorithm for multiplicities on nilmanifolds, we carry out here a direct computation to get the multiplicity formula.