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Spectral theory for commutative algebras of differential operators on Lie groups

The joint spectral theory of a system of pairwise commuting self-adjoint left-invariant differential operators L_1,...,L_n on a connected Lie group G is studied, under the hypothesis that the algebra generated by them contains a "weighted subcoercive operator" of ter Elst and Robinson (J. Funct. Anal. 157 (1998) 88-163). The joint spectrum of L_1,...,L_n in every unitary representation of G is characterized as the set of the eigenvalues corresponding to a particular class of (generalized) joint eigenfunctions of positive type of L_1,...,L_n. Connections with the theory of Gelfand pairs are established in the case L_1,...,L_n generate the algebra of K-invariant left-invariant differential operators on G for some compact subgroup K of Aut(G).