Semistable measures and limit theorems on real and p -adic groups

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Mh. Math. 115, 191-213 (1993) MonaL~efte f/it Springer-Verlag 1993 Printed in Austria Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups By Riddhi Shah, Bombay (Received 4 May 1992; infinal form 1 September 1992) Abstract. For any locally compact group G, we show that any locally tight homomorphism from a real directed semigroup into MI(G) (semigroup of probability measures on G) has a 'shift' which extends to a continuous one-parameter semigroup. If G is a p-adic algebraic group then the above holds even iff is not locally tight. These results are applied to give sufficient conditions for embeddability of some translate of limits of sequences of the form {v kn} and # E M 1 (G) such that z(#) = #k, for some k > 1 and zeAut G (cf. Theorems 2.1, 2.4, 3.7). Introduction Let G be a locally compact (Hausdorff, second countable) group and let MI(G) denote the topological semigroup consisting of all probability measures on G with weak topology and the convolution as the semigroup operation. Let Aut G be the group of all bicontinu- ous automorphisms of G. A continuous one-parameter semigroup {#t}t>~0 in MI(G) is said to be (z, c)-semistable, for some z~Aut G and for some c e ]0, 1[ w ] 1, o0 [, if r(#t) = Pct for all t i> 0. Given a # e M 1(G) and a zeAut G such that z(#) = #k for some k~N\{1} (where N is the set of all natural numbers), we are interested to know if # can be embedded in a (~, k)-semistable continuous one-parameter semigroup {#t}t>~o as #1 = #. We prove this to be so in the case when G is a connected aperiodic (real) Lie group (cf. Corollary 2.2). This general- ises a result of NOBEL who has proved it for every aperiodic strongly root compact group G (cf. [19], Remark 4). We also show that if G is a connected real Lie group or a p-adic algebraic group (for a prime p) with -c, # and k as above (z is an algebraic morphism in the p-adic case) then there exists an element x in G, such that x# can be embedded in a (z,k)-semistable continuous one-parameter semigroup {#t}t~>o as 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 60B15, 22E35, 60B10.

Transcript of Semistable measures and limit theorems on real and p -adic groups

M h . M a t h . 115, 191-213 (1993)

MonaL~efte f/it

�9 S p r i n g e r - V e r l a g 1993

P r i n t e d in A u s t r i a

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups

By

Riddhi Shah, Bombay

(Received 4 May 1992; in final form 1 September 1992)

Abstract. For any locally compact group G, we show that any locally tight homomorphism from a real directed semigroup into MI(G) (semigroup of probability measures on G) has a 'shift' which extends to a continuous one-parameter semigroup. If G is a p-adic algebraic group then the above holds even i f f is not locally tight. These results are applied to give sufficient conditions for embeddability of some translate of limits of sequences of the form {v kn} and # E M 1 (G) such that z(#) = #k, for some k > 1 and zeAu t G (cf. Theorems 2.1, 2.4, 3.7).

Introduction

Let G be a locally compact (Hausdorff, second countable) group and let MI(G) denote the topological semigroup consisting of all probabili ty measures on G with weak topology and the convolut ion as the semigroup operation. Let Aut G be the group of all bicontinu- ous au tomorphisms of G. A cont inuous one-parameter semigroup {#t}t>~0 in MI(G) is said to be (z, c)-semistable, for some z~Aut G and for some c e ]0, 1 [ w ] 1, o0 [, if r(#t) = Pct for all t i> 0. Given a # e M 1 (G) and a z e A u t G such that z(#) = #k for some k~N\{1} (where N is the set of all natural numbers), we are interested to know if # can be embedded in a (~, k)-semistable cont inuous one-parameter semigroup {#t}t>~o as #1 = #. We prove this to be so in the case when G is a connected aperiodic (real) Lie group (cf. Corollary 2.2). This general- ises a result of NOBEL who has proved it for every aperiodic strongly root compact group G (cf. [19], Remark 4). We also show that if G is a connected real Lie group or a p-adic algebraic group (for a prime p) with -c, # and k as above (z is an algebraic morph i sm in the p-adic case) then there exists an element x in G, such that x# can be embedded in a (z,k)-semistable cont inuous one-parameter semigroup {#t}t~>o as

1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 60B15, 22E35, 60B10.

192 R. SHAH

#~ = xp (cf. Theorems 2.1, 2.4). Semistable one-parameter semigroups of measures are characterised, in terms of their supports and the contraction groups, by HAZOD and SIEBERT in the real case (cf. [12]) and, by DANI and SI-IAH in the p-adic case (cf. [8]).

In Sect. 1, we develop a criterion for shift embeddability for dense real directed semigroups. Namely, given a locally tight homomorphism f from such a semigroup M to M ~ (G) we find a shift of the map from M which has a continuous extension to R+ (see Theorem 1.4). For a connected Lie group, by a result of DANI and MCCRUDDEN (cf. [6], Theorem 2.1), any abstract homomorphism from a real directed semigroup is locally tight and hence the preceding conclusion holds without the local tightness assumption. We show that in the case of p-adic algebraic groups also, the conclusion holds without the local tightness assumption (see Theorem 1.5); this in- cludes a p-adic analogue of the result of DANI and MCCRUDDEN.

In Sect. 3, we discuss the embeddability of the limit measures on real and p-adic groups. We prove in particular that if G is a connected locally compact group and #eMI(G) is such that supp# is not contained in any proper closed subgroup of G and # = lira,_, ~o v*," for some sequence {v,} in MI(G) and for some unbounded sequence {k,} in N, then there exists x ~ G such that x# is embeddable in a continu- ous one-parameter semigroup { #t } t/_- o as # 1 = x# (cfi Theorem 3.7 for a more general result, including a p-adic analogue). NOBEL showed that such a # is embeddable if G is an aperiodic strongly root compact group (cf. [19], Theorem 1). This can be deduced from our result (see Theorem 3.6).

1. Criterion for Shift Embeddability for Submonogeneous Semigroups

Here and throughout all the sections Q +, Q*, R + and R* denote respectively the additive semigroups of positive rational, nonnegative rational, positive real and nonnegative real numbers equipped with the usual topology. We denote by Qp, P a prime number, the field of p-adic numbers equipped with the p-adic topology. For x E Qp, Ix Iv denotes the p-adic absolute value of x. For any x = (Xl, . . . ,xr)~

u Qp( r~N) , [[x[[p=max{Ixi[pll <~i<<.r} denotes the norm of x. We refer the reader to [4] for details.

A semigroup M is called submonogeneous if it is generated by {mi[ i ~ N} such that, for each i, there exists r i E N such that m~_ 1 --- mi;

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 193

equivalently, it is a union of an increasing sequence of infinite cyclic semigroups.

A real directed semigroup M is a subsemigroup of R* such that, given r, s e M there exist t e M and m, n e N such that r = m t and s = nt. Any real directed semigroup is submonogeneous and conversely (cf. [17], pp. 314). For any real directed topological semigroup M and a topological semigroup S, a semigroup homomorphism f : M--* S is said to be locally tight if for each rneM, the set {f(m')]m' <<. m} is relatively compact in S.

In this section we develop a criterion for shift embeddability for submonogeneous semigroups. Namely, given a dense submono- geneous semigroup M of Q*, and given a locally tight homomor- phism f : M ~ M I ( G ) there exist a continuous homomorphism q~:R+--*MI(G) and a homomorphism e: m ~ G such that ~b(m)= e(m)f(m) = f(m)e(m) for all m e m (see Theorem 1.4). K. H. HOVMANN had derived the criterion for shift embeddability for the case when M is the whole semigroup Q*. We first find a shifting map ~b: Q+ Mt(G) thereby reducing it to Hofmann's criterion (cf. Corollary 1.3).

We show that the above assertion also holds i f f is an abstract (not necessarily locally tight) homomorphism in the case when G is a p-adic algebraic group (see Theorem 1.5).

We first observe the following equivalent conditions for a dense submonogeneous subsemigroup of Q*.

Proposition 1.1. Let M be a subgroup of Q* . Then M is sub- monogeneous and dense in Q* if and only if it satisfies the following conditions:

(a) I f a, b e M are such that a > b then a - b e M . (b) There exists an integer a e M and a sequence {ak} in M such that

I i m k ~ a k = 0 in Q+ and for all n e N , (a - ak)/n! e M for all large k.

Proof. Let M be submonogeneous and dense in Q*. Then M is generated by {a /mieMTmi+l=mir i for some r ieN, i e N and limi_.~ m~ = oo}. Clearly M satisfies condition (a). Since {ml} is rela- tively compact in Qp for each prime p, by a diagonalisation process, one can find a subsequence {mj} of {m~} which is convergent in Qp for all primes p. Now suppose for each prime p, limj_, oo mj ~ 0 in Qp. Then since limi_~oo mj-- 0o in the usual sense, there exists a subsequence {rag} such that lim k_~ oo (inkling + 1 ) = 0 in Q + and limk_~ ~ (mk/mk + 1 ) = 1 in each Qp. Let for each keN, a k = amk/mk+ 1 which is in M. Also

194 R. SHAH

limk-* co ak = 0 in Q + and lim k_, o0 (a - ak) = 0 in each Qp. Hence for all neN, (a - ak)/n! e M for all large k.

Now suppose for some prime q, limj_~ 00 mj = 0 in Qq. Then a/q" e M for all n e N . Hence there exists a subsequence {nk} such that limk-, oo (1/q "k) = 1 in each Qp such that p va q. In this case let ak = a/q "~ for all k e N . Then it is easy to see that {ak} satisfies condi t ion (b).

Now we prove the converse. Let M satisfy condit ions (a) and (b) of the proposi t ion. Let b be the smallest integer in M. T h e n if m/ne M, gcd(m, n) = 1 then using condi t ion (a), it is easy to see that b/n e M and b divides m. Hence we have that {b/nln is such that bin e M} generates M. N o w given b/r, b / seM let u = lcm(r, s). Then u = r's' for some r', s' which divide r, s respectively and gcd(r', s ' )= 1. Hence we have that b/r',b/s'eM and b / r '+b / s '=b t /ueM for some t e n such that gcd(t, u ) = 1. Hence condi t ion (a) implies that b/ueM. Hence b/r, b/s are contained in the infinite cyclic semigroup generated by b/u. This implies that M is an increasing union of cyclic semigroup and hence M is submonogeneous . F r o m condi t ion (b), for m/neQ*, (am--ak) / an e M for all large k and it converges to m/n in Q * . Hence M is dense in Q* .

Theorem 1.2. Let M be a dense submonogeneous subsemigroup of Q* and S be any metrizable topological semigroup. Let f : M-~ S be a locally tight semigroup homomorphism. Then there exist a locally tight homomorphism q~:Q+ ~ S and a homomorphism a: M-- .S such that

~b(Q+) c f (m), a(m) is contained in a compact subgroup o f f (m) and O(m) = tT(m)f(m), VmeM.

Proof. The proof is somewhat similar to that of Theorem 1 in [-21]. Let

K = (-] f(]O,x[c~M) and K ' = f ( ] O , l [ n M ) . x ~ R *

It is clear that K' is compact , K is a compact abelian subgroup o f f ( M )

and the identity e of K is the identity of f(M). Without loss of generality we may assume that 1 e M and that

{ 1/m i e M[ m i + 1 : miri for some r i e N, i e N and limi_~ ~o ml -- ~ }. Also from the previous proposi t ion we have a sequence {ak} in M such that limk_,~a k = 0 and for each nEN, (1 -- ak)/n!~M for all large k. Since 1/m i, (1 l ak)/mieM for all large k, condi t ion (a) of Proposi t ion 1.1 implies that ak/m i e M for all large k.

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 195

Now we construct homomorphisms ~b and a. First we construct inductively for all n e N , the subsequences {a~ ")} of {ak} such that {f((1 - a~"))/n!)} converges for all n e N and {f(a~")/n)} converges if n = m i for some i. Since limk_~ oo ak = 0 and K' is compact there exists a subsequence {a~ 11} of {ak} such that {/(a~l))} and { / ( 1 - - a(kl))} converge in K'. Having found for an n e N , the subsequences

(lh a k ; , . . . , {a~ ")} with the desired properties, we proceed to define {a~,+ 1)} as follows. Consider the sequence {a~"l/(n + 1)!}, which is eventually in M. Again since K' is compact there exists a subsequence {a(k,+ i)} of {a(k ")} such that {f((1 --a(k "+ 1))/(n + 1)!2~ converges in K' a n d i f n + 1 = mi for some i, then we can choose {a~ )} in such a way that {f(a~ "+ 1)/(n + 1))} converges. We thus get {a~ ")} for all h e N , with the desired properties.

We define 4~(1/n!) to be the limit of {f((1 - a~"))/n!)} in K'. It is obvious that 4~(1/(n+ 1)!) "+1 =~b(1/n!) for all heN . Hence as {(1/n!):neN} generates Q * , by Lemma 3.1.30 of [13], q~ can be extended homomorphical ly to Q * . Let qS(0)= e, the identity of K.

Obviously ~b(Q + ) c f (M) . Since K' is compact, ~b is locally tight. Now we define a : M ~ S . Since limk_.~ak=O, for each i,

{f(a~ml)/mi)} converges to (say) x ieK, and since K is a group, x/-1 exists and is in K. Let o-(1/m,) = x~- 1 for each i. Now using the relation mi+ l = r~mi for some teeN, we get

x ~ l = lira f { a i .... } = lim f = = x~. k oo \ m i + l J k oo + k m

Hence we have a(1/mi+l) r'= e(1/mi) for each i. And since {1/mi} generates M, by Lemma 3.1.30 of [13], a can be extended homomor-

phically to M. And a(M) c K, a compact subgroup of f (M) . We next show that ~b(m) = f(m)a(m) for each m e M. It is enough to

show that dp(1/mi) = a(1/mi)f(1/mi) for each i.

k f k a f ( l ' ] a ( l ' ] = f ( 1 i a (mi)\ /a(mO\ / 1 \ ; ) lw) I ; ) =

( ; ) - - a k lim f i = l i m f 1 (,,0", k-*o~ a~m') X - l =

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This completes the proof of the theorem.

Remark. I came to know from W. HAZOD that he had verified that HOFMANN'S proof for shift embeddability for the rational semigroup Q* also goes through for any dense submonogeneous subsemigroup of Q* and that he has used the general version in [9] and [10].

Corollary 1.3. Let G be a locally compact second countable group and f : M ~ M I ( G ) be a locally tight homomorphism for some dense submonogeneous subsemigroup of Q*. Then there exist a locally tight homomorphism q~:Q+ ~ MI(G) and a homomorphism ~: M ~ G

such that q~(Q+)cf(M), a(M) is contained in a compact subgroup of G and O(m)=e(m) f (m)=f(m)a(m) ,VmeM. (/-/ere the elements of G are identified with respective Dirac measures.)

Proof. The proof is similar to that of Corollary 1 in [21]. By the previous theorem there exist a locally tight homomorphism q~:Q+~MI(G) and a homomorphism a : M ~ M I ( G ) such that

q~(Q +) c f (M) and q~(m) = a(m)f(m). Let K be the group defined as in the proof of the previous theorem. Then a(M) c K. The identity of K has to be q~(0) = co H, the Haar measure of some compact subgroup/-/ of G (cf. [13], Theorem 1.2.10) and the elements of K are of the form XCOH(= 6x'COn, 6x being the Dirac measure at x), x eN(H), the nor- maliser of/-/ in G (cf. [13], Theorem 1.2.13).

As in the theorem, without loss of generality we may assume that I ~ M and {1/mi~ Mlmi + 1 = mir i for some r i~N and limi~o~m i = oe } generates M. Let x i be such that a(1/mi) = xico H. One can construct a homomorphism e: M ~ G such that o-(m)= e(m)co n = cope(m) for all m e M (see [21], Corollary 1 or [13], Theorem 3.6.2). Hence we get that ~b(m) = e(m)f(m) = f(m)e(m) for all meM.

Theorem 1.4. Let G be a locally compact second countable group. Let M be any dense real directed semigroup and let f : M--* MI(G) be a locally tight homomorphism. Then there exist a continuous one-par- ameter semigroup qS: R+ --, M I ( G) and a homomorphism c~: M -~ G such

that 4~(R+) c f(M), the image of c~ is contained in a compact subgroup of G and ~)(m) = e(m)f(m) = f(m)c~(m), Vm~ M (as earlier, the elements of G are identified with respective Dirac measures).

Since any real directed semigroup is submonogeneous and it is contained in rQ* for any r e M, it is isomorphic to a submonogeneous

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 197

subsemigroup of Q* (cf. [17], pp. 314). Hence it is easy to prove this theorem using Corollary 1.3 and Theorem 3.5.1 of [131.

By a p-adic algebraic group, p a prime, we mean an algebraic subgroup of GL,(Qp) for some h e n (cf. [1], [14] or [15] for generali- ties on algebraic groups). For #eMI(G), let G(#) denote the closed subgroup generated by the support of # in G and let G(#) denote the Zariski closure of G(#) in G. Let Z(#) denote the centralizer of G(#) in G. Obviously Z(#) is an algebraic group.

For a #~MI(G), F(#)= { 2 ~ m l ( G ) 1 2 , v = v , 2 = # for some v~ MI(G)} is said to be the factor set of#. I fH is any closed subgroup of G and tl: G ~ G/H is the natural projection, then for E ~ MI(G), E/H denotes the subset {tl(2)]2eE}(=q(E)) of MI(G/H).

A sequence {x,} in a topological space is said to be divergent if it does not have any convergent subsequence.

By a result of DANI and MCCRUDDEN for a connected real Lie group G, any abstract homomorphism f from a real direct semigroup to MI(G) is locally tight (cf. [6], Theorem 2.1). The following theorem can be considered as a p-adic analogue of this result. To prove this theorem we follow some techniques used in the real case by DANI and MCCRUDDEN (cf. [6]) upto a certain extent and then use some results in [21] and some properties of p-adic groups.

Theorem 1.5. Let G be any p-adic algebraic 9roup and Ma(G) be the semigroup of all probability measures on G. Let M be any dense real directed semigroup. Let f : M --* MI(G) be an abstract homomorphism of the semigroups. Then there exist a continuous one-parameter semigroup qS:R+--*MI(G) and a homomorphism c~:m~G such that ~b(m)= c~(m) f (m) = f (m)c~(m), V m ~ M.

Proof. As earlier, without loss of generality we may assume that M is a dense submonogeneous subsemigroup of Q* with I ~ M and {1/mi6Mlmi+ x = mir i for some ri6N , i6N and limi_~m i = oo} is the set of generators of M. Let us denote f(m) by #,n for each meM.

Step 1. We first claim that there exists an s ~ M such that for all m ~ M, #m is supported on Z(Z(#s)), namely, the centraliser of Z(#s) in G.

Since {Z(#,,)},,~M consists of p-adic algebraic groups, it is easy to prove this along the same lines as the proof of Lemma 2.3 in [6].

Now since Z(Z(#~)) is a p-adic algebraic group, without loss of generality we may assume G to be Z(Z(#~)). This implies that Z(#~) = Z the center of G.

198 R. SHAH

Step 2. We show that {#,, [m ~< s}/N is relatively compact where N r is a central subgroup isomorphic to Qp for some r/> 0.

From Theorem 2 of [21] we know that F(#~)/Z is relatively compact (as Z(#~) = Z). Let Z ~ be the Zariski connected component of Z. Since Z/Z ~ is finite, we get that F(#~)/Z ~ is relatively compact. Hence {#,,[ m <~ s}/Z ~ is relatively compact. As Z ~ is a Zariski connec- ted abelian group, it is isomorphic to N x N1, where N ~ Qp for some r i> 0 (cf. [1], Theorems 4.7, 10.6) and N 1 is a compactly generated group (cf. [3], Theorem 13.4). Hence by Proposition 8 of [16], {#m[m ~< s}/N is relatively compact.

Step 3. If r = 0 or if {mi} is a relatively compact sequence in Qp then we show that f is locally tight and the theorem in this case follows by Theorem 1.4.

If r = 0, that is, if N is trivial then {#,,Ira <~ s} is relatively compact and hence f is locally tight. Now let r :A 0 and let {ml} be a relatively compact sequence in Qp" For any n e N let N, = {m~N[p"Xm} and for #eMI(G), let R ( N n , # ) = { P [ 2 m - - # for some meN,,m>~a}. Then R(N,, #~) is relatively compact for each h e n (cf. [21], Lemmas 2, 3). Then since {mi} is a relatively compact sequence in Qp we have that {#m[m ~< s} is contained in R(N,,#~) for some hEN. This implies that {#,. [m ~< s} is relatively compact and hence f is locally tight. Now one can apply Theorem 1.4 and get the maps ~ and q5 with the desired properties.

Step 4. Let r 4:0 and suppose that {mi} is not a relatively compact sequence in Qp. Let rI:G~G/N be the natural projection. Then t/({#m I m ~< s}) is relatively compact, that is, r/(f) is locally tight. Take 2, = f(1/p") for all n ~> 0. If {2,} is relatively compact then it will be clear from Step 5 of this proof that f is locally tight and we can proceed as in Step 3.

Now suppose that {2n} is not relatively compact. Then by a well-known result (see [20], Ch. III, Theorem 2.2) there exists a sequence {x,} in G such that {x,} is not relatively compact but {2,x,} is relatively compact. Since r/(f) is locally tight, we have that {t/(2,)} and hence {t/(xn) } is relatively compact. Hence we get x, = ynzn for all h e n where {y,} is relatively compact in G and {zn}, ~hich is in N, is not relatively compact. Since N is central and {2,x,} is relatively compact we get that {2,z,} is relatively compact. We can assume that

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 199

z o = e, the identity in G. Now

(~n+iZn+ 1) p P p p = "~n+ IZn+ i ~--" V~nZn+ 1"

So we have {2,z,} and {2,z,P+ 1} are relatively compact . This implies - 1 p that {z, z,+ 1} is relatively compact . Hence there exists a compact

subset that C of N such that z,-1 p z, + 1 e C for all n. Let L be the sub- group generated by C in N. Now

-- i pn ZO Zn ZO 1 p - p p2 - p n - 1 pn Z1Z 1 Z 2 " " Z n - 1 Z n =

z g l p - i. = z l ( z l r-

p" Since L is a group and z o = e we get that z, e L for all n. Now since

u N = Qp, L is compact and we get for all n, z, = l,/p" for some l, eL.

Similarly we have for all m, neN , z2 az, .+.e~, p" t that is, (1,, +, - l,,)/p m e L. Hence if p" = max { 1[ x [] v [x e L} then [[ l,, +, - l,, [[ p ~< pa-m for all re, h e N . Hence {/,} is a convergent sequence in L. Let lim,_. ~o I, = l, which is in L. Let b, = I/p" for all n >f 0. {b,} is a sequence in N. Then for any m ~> 0,

z m b m 1 __ I m - - l _ lim Im- l" + " e L. pm ,-~ ~ pm

Hence {zmb~, ~ } is relatively compact . This implies that {2,b,} is relatively compact .

N o w define ~ ' : M ~ G and c~' :M-,MI(G) as c((m)=ml and (~'(m) = f (m) , ' (m)= f(m)(ml) for each m e M . Then the image of e' is central in G and {qS'(1/p")},~N is relatively compact .

Step 5. We prove that ~b' is locally tight and hence the proof in this case follows from Theorem 1.4.

To prove that ~b' is locally tight we only use the fact that {qS'(1/p")},~ N is relatively compact . Since (p'(m)N = f ( m ) N in G/N for each m e M and t l(f) is locally tight, we have that t/(~b') is also locally tight.

Let I = {(i,j)] 1 / j e m and i ~<j}, then I is countable. 21d = (~'(i/j) for each ( i , j )el . Then {2ij} is a sequence in MI(G) and there exists a sequence {hi,j} in N such that {21jhij} is relatively compact in Ma(G). h,i,,j = hi,j for each h e n such that (1/nj)eM. Since {2~,p.} is same as {q~'(1/p")} which is relatively compact . Hence we can assume that h~,p, = 0 = h(1, 1) for each n e N . Now since N is central, arguing as in

200 R. SHAH

the proof of Proposi t ion 8 of [16], we get that there exists a compact subset K of N such that

h,,j + hk, j - h i + k , j E K for i + k ~<j.

r Since N = Qp for some r :~ 0, we may assume K to be a compact subgroup. Le t j = m d for any fixed generator m d of M. Let mn= ap b for some fixed aEN, pXa and b ~> 0. Now using the above equat ion we get that hid + hid - hz,j , h i , j q- h2, j - h3 , j , . . . , h i , j q- h a- 1,j - - had~K. Since K is a group and had = hi,pb = O, by adding the above equations we get that ah~d~K. Since pXa, we get that h i j~K . Again using the above equat ion we get had + hi_ 1,fi K and hence hi_ 1,fi K. Succes- sively we get hi, i lK for all i < j . Since this is true for any generator m a =j, we get that hid6K for all (i,j)sI. Hence {hi,j} is relatively compact . This implies that {2id } is relatively compact and 4)' is locally tight. Hence by Theorem 1.4 there exists a cont inuous h o m o m o r - phism qS:R+ ~ M I ( G ) and a h o m o m o r p h i s m a": M ~ G such that

~b(R+) c q~'(M) and q~(m) = ~"(m)dp'(m) = dy(m)a"(m) for all m~M. Since a'(M) is central, we can define a h o m o m o r p h i s m a: M - . G as a(m)= a'(m)a"(m) for~each m~M. Thus we have ~b and ~ with the desired properties.

Remark. Using the same technique as in Theorem 4 of [21], one can easily show that the above theorem also holds for any closed (not necessarily algebraic) subgroup G of GL,(Q,) for any n e N.

2. Semistable Measures on Real and p-adic Groups

For a probabil i ty measure # on G let s u p p # denote the suppor t of #, let G(#) be the closed subgroup generated by s u p p # in G. Let the invariance group of# in G be defined as I(#) = {x E G Ix# = #x = #} and let the invariance group of# in Aut G be defined as J ( # ) = {z~Aut {r

= #}.

Theorem 2.1. Let G be a connected locally compact 9roup and let #EMX(G). Let z ~ A u t G be such that z(#)= #k, for some k~N\{1} . Then there exists an element x contained in a compact subgroup of G such that x# can be embedded in a continuous one-parameter semigroup {#t},~> 0 as #1 = X# and {#t}t~> 0 is (% k)-semistable, that is, z(Ut) = #kt for all teR+.

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 201

Moreover, if G is a Lie group then there exists an n 6 N such that gcd(k, n) = 1 and #" can be embedded in a continuous (z, k)-semi- stable one-parameter semigroup {/~t}t~>o as #1 = I~ and #o = con, the Haar measure of the compact group H = I(#).

Proof. Let M={a/kb laeN , b>~O}. Clearly M is a dense sub- monogeneous subsemigroup of Q * with generators {1/kblbeN}. Now define f : M ~ MI(G) as f (a /k b) = "c-b(#a) for all a e N and b i> 0. Clearly f is a homomorph i sm. Since G is connected, there exists a compact normal subgroup L of G such that G/L is a connected Lie group. Let rc:G-,G/L be the natural projection and let jT: M--*MI(G/L) be defined by f(m) = zc(f(m)) for all m~M. Then j~is a h o m o m o r p h i s m and by Theorem 2.1 of [6], f is locally tight. Since L is compact , this implies that f itself is locally tight. Hence by The- orem 1.4, there exist a cont inuous h o m o m o r p h i s m ~b: R+ ~ M I(G)

and a h o m o m o r p h i s m ~: M ~ G such that ~b(R +) c f (M), the image of is contained in a compact subgroup of G and ~b(m) = e(m)f(m) =

f(m)c~(m),Vm~m. Moreover, since z(2)= 2 k for all 2 e f ( m ) , we have ~(~b(t)) = (o(t) k = 4)(kt) for all t e R + . Let e(1) = x (say), then q~(1) = x#. Also qS(0) = c%r , the Haar measure of some compact group H of G, is

the identity of f (M). This proves the first assertion in the theorem.

Now suppose that G is a Lie group. Let K = Ny~R*+ f ( ] 0 , y [ n M). Then K is a compact abelian group whose elements are of the form &a,oo~, aEN(H), the normaliser of H. Hence K is a Lie group with only finitely many connected components . Let K ~ be the connected componen t of the identity in K. Then K ~ ~ T ~ for some l ~> 0, where T = { y e C [1 y l = 1 } (where C is the field of complex numbers). Since ~(f(m))=f(km), for all m e m , we have z(K)= K. Thus z is an au tomorph i sm of K. But "c(2) = 2 k for all 2 ~ K, k > 1, can not be a au tomorph i sm of K ~ unless K ~ is a trivial group. Hence K is a finite group. Let n be the order of K. Then gcd(n, k) = 1. F r o m Corollary 1.3 and Theorem 3.5.1 of [-13] it is clear that e(m).coHeK for all meM. Hence (x#)" = x"#"= x"coH#" = #". Hence by reparametrising ~b we get that #" can also be cont inuously embedded in a (~, k)-semistable one parameter semigroup as Pl = #" and # o - c~ It follows from Proposi t ion 1.2 of [10] that H = I(#).

A locally compact group is said to be aperiodic if it does not contain any nontrivial compact subgroup.

202 R. SHAH

Corollary 2.2. Let G, z, #, k be as in Theorem 2.1. Suppose that G is aperiodic. Then # itself can be embedded in a (z, k)-semistable continu- ous one-parameter semigroup {#t}t>~o as #1 = #. Moreover, G(#) is a nilpotent Lie group.

This follows immediately from the above theorem, Proposi- tion 4.2 of [11] and Corollary 2.4 of [22].

A measure #E MI(G) is said to be B-stable if for every k e N there exists ZkeAUt G such that z(#) = #k.

Corollary 2.3. Let G be a connected Lie group and let #e MI(G) be B-stable. Then # is embeddable i f J (# ) is compact.

Proof. Let for each k e N , ZkeAUt G be such that Zk(#) = #k. Fix a keN\{1}. Let M, f : M ~ M I ( G ) and K be defined as in the proof of Theorem 2.1 for z = z k. Then f is a locally tight homomorphism such that f ( 1 ) = # and zk( f (m))= f (km) for all m eM.

Now if J ( # ) is compact then, as in the proof of Lemma 4 of [19], one can easily show that Zk(f(m))= f (km) for all k e n and m e M . Since K is a finite group and Zk(2 ) = 2 k for all keN. Hence K is trivial and f extends continuously to R*. And Zk(f(t)) = f (k t ) for all k e N and t e R * .

Remark. If G is a Lie group without any compact central sub- group of positive dimension and # e M 1 (G) is such that G(#) = G then J (# ) is relatively compact; more generally see Theorem 1.8 of [5]. Moreover, if # is B-stable then by Corollary 2.3, # is embeddable.

Theorem 2.4. Let G be a p-adic algebraic group for some prime p and #eMI(G) . Let z be an automorphism of G as a p-adic algebraic group. Suppose that z(#) = #k for some k e N\{ 1 }. Then there exists an element x e G(#) such that x# can be embedded in a continuous one- parameter semigroup {#t}t~>o such that #1 = x# and {#t}t~>0 is (z, k)- semistable, that is, z(#t) = #kt for all t e R + .

Proof. Since z(#) = #k we have that z(G(#)) c G(#) and z(G(#)) is a subgroup of finite index in G(#). Hence since z is an automorphism of G as a p-adic algebraic group, we have that -c(G(#)) = t~(#). Hence without loss of generality we may assume that G = G(#).

Now let M = {a/kb[a e N, b >f 0}. Clearly M is a dense submono- geneous subsemigroup of Q* with generators {1/kb[beN}. Now

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 203

define f : M ~ M: (G) as f ( a / k b) = -c -b(#,) for all a G N and b ~> 0. Clearly f is a homomorph i sm, f (1) = # and ~(f(m)) = f ( km) for all m e M .

Now suppose that pXk. Then since G = (~(#), Proposi t ion 3 of [21] implies that f ( ]0, 1 [ c~ M) is relatively compact and hence f is locally tight. Hence by Theorem 1.4 there exist a cont inuous h o m o m o r p h i s m ~b: R+ ~ M : ( G ) and a h o m o m o r p h i s m ~: M ~ G such that ~b(R+)c

f ( m ) and c~(m) = e(m)f (m) = f(m)o~(m), VmeM. Since z(2) = 2 k for all

2 e f ( m ) , we have that z(dp(t)) = r k = dp(kt) for all t~R+ . Now let plk. Then by Theorem 1.5, there exist a cont inuous

h o m o m o r p h i s m ~b: R + ---, M ' (G) and a h o m o m o r p h i s m e : M ~ M 1 (G) such that r o~(m)f(m)= f(m)e(m). To conclude the proof we only have to show that z(4)(t)) = c~(kt) for all t e R + . As in Step 5 of Theorem 1.5 there also exist a locally tight h o m o m o r p h i s m ~b': M M'(G) and a h o m o m o r p h i s m e': m --. G such that r = e'(m)f(m),

qS(R+) ~ r and e'(M) is central in G, as G = G(#) = G(f(m)) for each m. In fact i f Z is the center of G, then e'(M) : N, where N is as in

r the proof of Theorem 1.5, a closed central subgroup of G and N = Qp, for some r e N . Obviously z(N) = N. Hence it is enough to show that z(O'(m)) = r for all m ~ m .

z(r = :( f (m) )z(c( (m) ) =

= f (km)a ' (km)c((km)-I z(a'(m)) =

= d/(km) c((km)- 1 z(a'(m)).

Since r is locally tight so is -c(r Hence the above equality implies that A = {~'(km)-:z(~'(m))[rnem, m ~ 1} is relatively compact in N. Moreover since p divides k, we have that if a e A then alp ~ A. Hence A = {e}, where e is the identity. This implies that z(~'(m)) = ~'(km) and hence, since z is a morphism, "c(~b'(m))= (~'(km) for all m ~ M . Let 0~(1) = x (say). Then ~b(1) = xf(1) = x#. Now, since G is totally discon- nected, as in the p roof of Theorem 4 of [21], we get supp q~(t) c G(#) for all t ~ R + . Since supp r x# = x supp# , this implies that xeG( ).

3. Limit Theorems for Measures on Real and p-adic Groups

In this section we study the possible limit laws of any sequence {vk, ~ of probabili ty measures on connected locally compact groups and p-adic algebraic groups, where {k,} is a sequence in N. NOBEL has

204 R. SHAH

made a detailed study of the limit laws on any simply connected ni lpotent Lie groups (cf. [19-1). We give certain general condit ions under which the limiting measure is root compact , infinitely divisible or more generally embeddable.

A measure # e M 1 (G) is said to be infinitely divisible if for each n ~ N there exists a measure 2 e M I ( G ) such that 2" = #; such a 2 is called an n th-root of p. A measure # e M I(G) is said to be root compact if the root set of #, namely R(#) = {2mI2eMI(G), 2" = # for some n >/m} is rela- tively compact .

T h r o u g h o u t this section for a locally compact group G, let {v,} be a sequence in MI(G) and {k,} be a sequence in N such that

lim k. Vn =f l

for some #eMI(G) . Let A = {vml m <~ k,, kn, neN}.

Theorem 3.1. Let G be a connected locally compact group. Let {v,}, {k,},# and A be as above. Let N be a connected nilpotent normal subgroup of G. I f there is no proper closed subgroup containing N and the support of #, then A is relatively compact. In particular, # is root compact.

To prove this theorem we use techniques similar to those develop- ed by MCCRLrDDEN in [16]. Before proving it let us state some useful results.

L e m m a 3.2. Let G be any locally compact group and {v,}, {k,}, # and A be as above. Let C be a closed subgroup of G and q: G ~ G/C be the natural projection. Let C be either a compact subgroup or strongly root compact central subgroup of G. Then A is relatively compact if and only if q(A) is relatively compact.

Proof. It is obvious that if A is relatively compact then t/(A) is relatively compact . N o w let t/(A) be relatively compact . Then if C is compact , the proof follows from a well-known criterion for relative compactness of a set of probabil i ty measures (cf. [20], Ch. II, The- orem 6.7). If C is a strongly root compact central subgroup then it can be proved along the same lines as Proposi t ion 8 of [16] (see [13], 3.1.10 for the definition of strongly root compact groups).

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 205

Proposition 3.3. Let G be an almost algebraic subgroup of GLn(R ) (resp. an algebraic subgroup of GL,(Qp)) for some n ~ N. Suppose that the center of G is finite. Let {x,} be a divergent sequence in G. Then there exist a subsequence {Ym} of {x,} or {xn -1} and a proper algebraic subgroup B of G such that for every relatively compact sequence {zm} in G, any limit point of the sequence { ymZmy2 2 } is contained in B.

In the real case this can be easily derived from Theorem 3.2 in [-7-1 and in the p-adic case, it can be derived from Theorem 2 in [21].

Proposition 3.4. Let G be a connected Lie group (resp. a p-adic algebraic group) and Z be the center of G. Let C be a normal closed (resp. algebraic) subgroup of G such that C is a vector group and Z c~ C is discrete. Let tl: G ~ G/C be the natural projection and suppose that {xn} is a sequence in G such that

(c) {xn} has no convergent subsequence in G and (d) {t/(xn)[n ~ N} is relatively compact in G/C. Then there exist a subsequence {Ym} of {X~} and a proper closed

(resp. algebraic) subgroup B containing the centralizer of C in G, such that for every relatively compact sequence {z,n } in G, any limit point of the sequence { YmZmY21} is contained in B.

The proof is same as that of Proposition 9 of [16] and it is easy to see that the subgroup B chosen as in that proof contains the central- izer of C in G.

Proof of Theorem 3.1. Since G is a connected locally compact group there exists a compact normal subgroup K of G such that G/K is a Lie group (cf. [18], pp. 118). Let t l : G ~ G / K be the natural projection. Then t/(N) is a connected nilpotent normal subgroup of G and the closed subgroup generated by the support of t/(/~) and t/(N) is the whole of G/K. Hence, by Lemma 3.2, without loss of generality we may assume G to be a Lie group.

Now we will prove the theorem by induction on the dimension of the Lie group G. If dim G = 1 then G is abelian. Then G is strongly root compact (cf. [13], 3.1.12) and hence A is relatively compact (cf. [19], Lemma 1). Assume that the theorem is true for all Lie groups G with dim G < n. Now let dim G = n. We may assume that the center Z of G is zero dimensional; otherwise Z would contain a closed connected subgroup C of positive dimension and as, such a C is strongly root

206 R. SrIaH

compact, the assertion follows from the induction hypothesis and Lemma 3.2.

Now let G be semisimple. Then since G/Z has trivial center and Z is compactly generated, by Lemma 3.2, we can assume that G is a semisimple group with trivial center. Hence G can be realised as an almost algebraic subgroup of GL,(R) for some heN. Also since G is semisimple, N = {e}, where e is the identity of G. Let us suppose that A is not relatively compact, that is, there exists a sequence {b~[b~ <~ k~} such that {v~'} is a divergent sequence in A. Hence by a well-known result (cf. [20], Ch. III, Theorem 2.2), one can choose a divergent sequence {x~} in G such that {v~'x~},

bz 1 ez) cz - {xzvl }, {Xl vl t and {vz x~ 1} are relatively compact, where - - 1 kl ) kz - 1 } c~ = k 1 - b I for each 1. This implies that /x~ vz xz~ and {xffz xl

are relatively compact. F rom Proposition 3.3, there exist a subsequ- ence {y,,} of {x~} or {x~ -1} and a proper closed subgroup B of G, such that for every relatively compact sequence {zm} in G, any limit point of the sequence {y,,,z,,y21 } is contained in B. Since N is trivial, supp # generates whole of G. Hence #(G\B)r O. Then there exists a compact set K such that K n B = ~ and #(K) = 6 > 0. Then there exists an open relatively compact set U such that KUc~B= ;Z5. Then there exists N e N such that v~'(Kff)>61 > 0 for all n i> N (cf. [-20], Ch. II, Theorem 6.1). Since {Ym} is a sub-

- - 1 - - 1 k m �9 " sequence of {x~} or {xt }, {y,~ v,, y,,} is relatively compact; (here k m k! {v m } is a subsequence of {v I }). Hence there exists a compact set

K 1 such that y~lvk"y, .(K1)>l--61/2 and for all l, that is, k m z ~T - 1 \ Vm (ym~ly ,~)>1--61/2 for all I. This implies that y,K~y~,~c~

Kt? ~ IZ/. Hence there exists a relatively compact sequence {z,,) in K~ such that {YmZmY~ 1 } is contained in a compact set KtT, hence {y,,z,y~ :~ } has a convergent subsequence whose limit is not contained in B. This is a contradiction. Hence A is relatively compact.

Now suppose that G is not semisimple. Without loss of generality we may assume N to be the maximal connected nilpotent normal subgroup of G. Hence N is nontrivial. Let C be the connected component of the identity in the center of N. (C is nontrivial since N is nontrivial, connected and nilpotent). Since C is abelian C = R m x K, where m is a nonnegative integer and K is a compact subgroup ([18], Theorem 26). If K is nontrivial then by Lemma 3.2, it is enough to show that r/(A) is relatively compact, where '1: G ~ G/K is the natural projection, which follows from the induction hypothesis as

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 207

dim G/H < n. If K is trivial then C = R m for some m > 0, that is, C is a normal vector group. Let 11: G ~ G/C be the natural projection. Sup- pose that A is not relatively compact. Then arguing as before we conclude that there exist a sequence {b,[b I <~ kz} in N and a sequence {x~} in G such that {@} and {xl} are divergent sequences and {v~'x,} and {x~-l@xi} are relatively compact. Since dim G/C< n, by the induction hypothesis t/(A) is relatively compact. This implies in particular, that {t/(vTz)} and hence {t/(xt) } are relatively compact. Hence by Proposition 3.4 there exist a subsequence { Ym} of {x,} and a proper closed subgroup B containing the centralizer of C in G, such that for every relatively compact sequence {zm} in G, any limit point of the sequence {y,,z,,y~, 1} is contained in B. Since C is central in N, B contains N. This implies that #(G\B) ~ O. As in the semisimple case, this leads to a contradiction. Hence A is relatively compact. The proof is complete by induction.

Theorem 3.5. Let G be a Zariski connected p-adic algebraic group r cbn and {v,}, {kn}, # and A be as above. For each meN, set A,~= iv,

AIb.pZ= k , , l<m, ceN}. Let N be the maximal Zariski connected nilpotent normal subgroup of G. I f there is no proper algebraic subgroup containing N and the support of#, then A m is relatively compact for each meN.

Proof. We prove this by the induction on dim G. Let dim G = 0, then G = {e} and MI(G) is compact. Hence A is relatively compact. Now let the theorem be true for all G with dim G < k. Let dim G = k. If G is semisimple (not necessarily Zariski connected), then G has a finite center and N = {e}, the trivial group. Hence G(#)= G. Then using Proposition 3.3 and arguing as in the real case, we get that A is relatively compact. If G is reductive then the center Z is compactly generated (cf. [3], Theorem 13.4) and Z ~ = R(G), the radical of G (cf. [3], Proposition 2.2). Hence G/Z is an open subgroup ofa semisimple algebraic group (of. [1], Theorem 6.8); in fact it is a subgroup of finite index (see [2], Proposition 1.12, Theorem 6.2). Hence if q: G ~ G/Z is

kn the natural projection then t/(v, )~t/(#) and (~(t/(#)) contains G/Z. Hence t/(A) is relatively compact. Using Lemma 3.2, we get that A is relatively compact.

Now suppose that G is not reductive. Then N = U x T, U is the (nontrivial) unipotent radical of G and T is the maximal torus in N. Let C be the center of U. Then C is a normal algebraic vector group,

208 R. SHAH

G/C is an open subgroup of a Zariski connected algebraic group (cf. [1], Theorem 6.8); in fact G/C itself is algebraic (see [2], Proposit ion 1.12, Theorem 6.2(b)). Now dim G/C < k. If Z is compactly generated then C n Z = J25. Let 1"1: G --* G/C be the natural projection. Then t/(N) is a Zariski connected nilpotent normal subgroup of G/C. We also have limn_, oo t/(v, kn) = t/(#) and there is no proper algebraic subgroup of G/C containing t/(N) and supp t/(#). Hence using the induction hy- pothesis, we get that t/(Am) is relatively compact for each m ~ M. Now using Proposit ion 3.4 and arguing as in the real case, we get that A,, is relatively compact for each m ~ N. Suppose that Z is not compactly generated. Let m ~ N be arbitrary and let Nm = {n e N: pm)[n}. As in the proof of Proposition 3 of [21], Z ~ is N,,-root compact (cf. [21] for the definition). Let rl: G ~ G/Z ~ be the natural projection. Using induc- tion as earlier, we get that t/(Am) is relatively compact for each m e M . Using this fact and arguing as in Proposition 8 of [16], we get that A,, is relatively compact for each m e M . This completes the proof by induction.

F rom now on until the end of this section let {k,} be an un- bounded sequence in N. Without loss of generality we can assume that {k,} is a strictly increasing sequence.

Theorem 3.6. Let G be any locally compact group and let {v,}, {k,}, # and A be as above. I f A is relatively compact then there exists an element x contained in a compact subgroup of G such that x# is embeddabte in a continuous one-parameter semigroup {g(t)}t>.o as #1 = x # .

Moreover, for each t > O, there exist {nj} c N and x t in a compact subgroup of G such that

#(t) -- lim v~knjtl * Xt = Xt * lim vtknjtln~ �9 (3.1) j~0o j-ooo

Proof. The proof is somewhat similar to that of Theorem 1 in [19]. Since A is relatively compact without loss of generality we can assume that {v,} is convergent and let lim._,~ovn=v. Let B = {v"lneN}. Then B c A is relatively compact. Hence v is sup- ported on some compact subgroup C of G (cf. [19], Lemma 2). Let B' = (']k~N {v"ln >>. k}. Then B' is a group and the elements of B' are of the type XCOH(----O~BX) where co n, the Haar measure of some compact group H, is the identity of B'. Then it is easy to see that o n , # =

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 209

P* con = # and for all n e N, there exists x, e C, co n �9 v" = x, �9 co n for all h e N .

Now {v~k"(1/k~)llne N}, which is contained in A, is relatively com- pact for all k e N . Hence by diagonalisation process there exists a subsequence {%} of {v,} such that for l e N there exists n( / )eN and

lim V [knJ(1/t!)l ,j = # ~ e A and # = #z~.v"(~ j - -* co

Clearly, for each I e N, co n* #~ = #~ * con = #~ and hence # = #~l ~ �9 v "a) �9 l!

con = # t *Xn(0 for some Xn(l)eC. Let y be some limit point of x,~t 1) in C. Then

y# = #y = lira #~. l--* oo

Hence y# is infinitely divisible in A which is relatively compact. Now one can construct a locally tight homomorphism f : Q* --. MI(G) such that f ( 1 ) = y # ( = # y ) and f(1/n!)=limr_.o~#~; ~/"r in A (cf. [13], Lemma 3.1.30). Hence by Theorem 3.5.1 of [13], there exist a continu- ous one-parameter semigroup {#(t)}t~o and a homomorphism c~: Q --, G such that #(q) = f(q)c~(q) = c~(q)f(q) for all q e Q * , {#(t)}~o c

f ( Q * ) and e(Q) is a compact subgroup of G. Let e (1)=z . Then #1 = yz#. Moreover, both y and z commute with all the elements of f ( Q * ) . Hence x = yz belongs to some compact subgroup of G and x# = #x is embeddable.

To prove equation (3.1), it is enough to show that, for each t > 0 there exists x t which commutes with #(t) and

[knjt] , (3.2) #(t) = lim v,j x t j ~ o o

for some sequence {n j} depending on t. We have

]j[kna/b] [kn/Ir!]lr!a/b * n = Vn Pr

for some Pr e B. Hence for each r e N there exists xr e C such that

lim - [knja/b] . I t ! a / b , . Vnj ~-- [~Ir JLr"

j - , ov

Going to a suitable subsequence, limi_.o~v~kj"#b]=f(a/b)*x(a/b), where x(a/b)eC. Hence equation (3.2) holds for t = a / b e Q + , x t = x(a/b)-lc~(a/b) for each j. As MI(G) is second countable one could choose the same sequence {n j} for all t e Q * .

210 R. SHah

Fix t in R * . Let {rm} c Q * and {tm} c R* be such that rm--*t , tin--*0 as m--,oo and t = r m + t , , , V m . Then for each m, v~k"tl= 11[k~r ,n l . . [ k n t m ]

, ~v, *Pro for some PmeB. Hence for all m, using equation (3.2) for rm, for a suitable subsequence we get that

lim V.jtk"~t]---- #(rm)*X,-ml *p~ = #(rm)*p~, j--, oo

t t k n t m ] , ~ a n d " ' where pm=l imj_ ,~v , t 'm p m = X r m * P m . As in the proof of Theorem 1 of [19], if p is a limit point of p,~ then p is contained in a compact subgroup of A. One can easily show that for all q e Q * , p , f ( q ) = f ( q ) , p = f ( q ) , x for some x contained in a com- pact subgroup of G. And hence limi_, ~o v[k"JO = #(t)* X(t) for some x(t) . j contained in a compact subgroup of G. So equation (3.2) holds for t with x t = x(t)- 1. From our choice of x t it is clear that #(t) , x t = x t , #(t) for all t > 0. This completes the proof of the theorem.

T h e o r e m 3.7. Let G be a connected locally compact (resp. a Zariski connected p-adic algebraic) group. Let {v,}, {k,} and # be as above. Let N be a connected (resp. the maximal Zariski connected) nilpotent normal subgroup of G. I f there is no proper closed (resp. algebraic) subgroup containing N and the support o f# then there exists an element x contained in a compact subgroup o fG (resp. x contained in G(#)) such that x#( = #x) is embeddable in a continuous one-parameter semigroup { # ( t ) } t ~ > o as #1 = x#.

Moreover, for each t > 0 there exist sequences {n~} c N and {xta} in G such that

#(t) = lira v[,~ "jt],xtJ. (3.3) j~oo

Proof. If G is a connected locally compact group then the asser- tion follows from Theorems 3.1 and 3.6.

Now suppose that G is a p-adic algebraic group and A be as above. Let A m be as in the hypothesis of Theorem 3.6. Then Am is relatively compact for each m e N . Consider the sequence {1/k,} in Qp. If {1/k,} is relatively compact in Qp then A = A m for some m e N , which is relatively compact and the assertion follows from Theorem 3.6.

Now suppose that {1/k,} is not relatively compact in Qp. Then there exists a subsequence of {k,}, denote it again by {k,}, such that lim,_, o0 k, = 0 in Qp, that is, for each m e N, P"[ k, for all large n. Let M = {a/pmlaeN, b >~0}. Then M is a dense submonogeneous sub-

Semistable Measures and Limit Theorems on Real and p-adic Groups 211

semigroup of Q * . Since A,, is relatively compact for each m e N , by a diagonalisation process we can find a subsequence of {v,}, denote it again by {v,}, such that for each m e N , lim,_~ o~ vk, "/p" = #,, (k,/p" is an integer for all large n). Obviously, P #,. + 1 = #,, for all m e N. Let f : M ~ M I ( G ) be a h o m o m o r p h i s m such that f (1/p")=#, , and f(1) = # (cf. [13], L e m m a 3.1.30). Then by Theorem 1.5, there exist a cont inuous one-parameter semigroup {#(t)}t~0 and a h o m o m o r - phism ~:M-*G such that #(q)=f(q)~(q)=~(q)f(q) for all qeM. #(1) = e(1)f(1) -- x# where a(1) -- x(say). Arguing as in the proof of Theorem 2.4, we get that x e G(#).

As in the proof of Theorem 3.6, it is easy to show that equa- t ion (3.3) follows for some fixed sequence {n j} of N all teM. Now fix t in R*. Since M is dense in R * , t = r m+ t,~ for each m, where { r , , } c M , { t , , } c R * ; r m - * t and t m ~ 0 as m---~oe. Clearly for any l i t "[kntl knrm [kntral ,v, = v, *v, for all large n. Also v~kjl*ytd converges for some sequence {Ytd} in G and a subsequence of {n j}, which we denote by {n j} again (cf. [20], Ch. III, Theorem 2.2). Again taking a suitable subsequence of {n j},

�9 k n T m , [ k n j t m ] , lim v~k7 ~tl* Ytd ---- !im v,j v, Ytd

= f(rm)* a(r~)* ~(rm)- 1.2m _--

= #(t)* lim a(rm)- ~*2m, m--+ GO

where 2 m = limj_.oov~k"*ml*yt,j for each m. Let 1imm_~ooa(rm)-12m = 2. Now if #(0) -- con, the Haar measure of some compact group H, then

r "~ knja 3 o) H = limj_~ o~ a(aj)f(aj) = limj_~ ~o ataflv,j for some {a j} c M, aj ~ 0 as j --* oo. Since a(q)f(q') = f(q')a(q) for all q, q' e M and lim~_~ ~ t m = 0, it is easy to show that co~,2 = 2 and 2 , 2 ' = a~ n for some 2 'eMI(G). This implies that 2 = ~o~ �9 x for some x e G. Hence equat ion (3.3) holds for xtd = ytd ,x-1 for eachj . This completes the proof.

One could also show that for each t > 0,

_, . . tk.,tl (3.4) #(t) = lira xt,j v.j j-~oo

! for some sequence {xtj} in G.

Remark. In the hypothesis of Theorems 3.6 and 3.7, if G is a connected real Lie group then there exists m e N such that #" is embeddable; # itself is embeddable if G is a connected ni lpotent or

212 R. SHAH

aperiodic Lie group. Let {#(t)}t>to and x be as constructed in the p roof of Theorem 3.6 such that #(1) = x#. If G is aperiodic then x = e and #1 = #. Clearly, x ,# ( t ) = # ( t ) , x for all t e R + . Let G(x) be the closed subgroup generated by x in G. Then G(x) is a compact abelian Lie group with finitely many connected components . For some me N, x " e G(x) ~ the connected componen t of identity in G(x). Then there exists a cont inuous one-parameter semigroup {at}t~ o c G(x) ~ such that a 1 = x - " . Let 7(0 = at*#(mt) for all t e R + . Then {7(t)}t>~o is a cont inuous one-parameter semigroup with 7(1) = #m. NOW let G be a connected ni lpotent Lie group. Then the center Z of G is connected (cf. [23], Corollary 3.6.4) and x, being in a compact subgroup of G, is contained in Z. Hence there exists a cont inuous one-parameter semigroup {at}t~ 0 c Z such that a 1 = x -1. Let 7(0 = at*#(t) for all t e R +. Then {7(0 }t~> 0 is a cont inuous one-parameter semigroup with 7(1) = #. Clearly, equat ion 3.1 holds for 7(0 in place of#(t) for all t > 0.

The following is an easy consequence of Theorem 3.7 and the above remark.

Corollary 3.8. Let G be a connected locally compact (resp. Zariski connected p-adic algebraic) group and #eMI(G) . Let {k.} be an unbounded sequence in N such that # has a (k.)th-root for each n e N. I f G(#) = G (resp. 5(#) = G) then there exists an element x contained in a compact subgroup of G (resp. x contained in G(#) ) such that x#( = #x) is embeddable; # itself is embeddable if G is aperiodic. I f G is a connected real Lie group with G(#) = G then there exists an m e N such that #m is embeddable. I f G is a connected nilpotent real Lie group then # itself is embeddable.

Acknowledgement. I thank S. G. DANI, W. HAZOD and M. MCCRUDDEN for helpful discussions and S. G. DAN/and C. S. ARAVINDA for help in preparing this manuscript. I thank Sonderfor- schungsbereich-170, "Geometric und Analysis", GSttingen and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Professors M. DENKER and A. VERJOVSKV in particular, for hospitality while this work was being done. I also thank the referee for valuable comments and suggestions which led to Corollary 2.3 and improvement of Theorems 3.6 and 3.7.

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RIDDHI SHAH School of Mathematics Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Homi Bhabha Road Bombay 400 005 India