Markov semi-groups associated with the complex unimodular group $Sl(2,\mathbb{C})$

Abstract

In this paper, we derive the explicit expressions of two Markov semi-groups constructed by P. Biane in \cite{Bia1} from the restriction of a particular positive definite function on the complex unimodular group $Sl(2,\mathbb{C})$ to two commutative subalgebras of its universal $C^{\star}$-algebra. Our computations use Euclidean Fourier analysis together with the generating function of Laguerre polynomials with index $-1$, and yield absolutely-convergent double series representations of the semi-group densities. In the last part of the paper, we discuss the coincidence, noticed by Biane as well, occurring between the heat kernel on the Heisenberg group and the semi-group corresponding to the intersection of the principal and the complementary series. To this end, we appeal to the metaplectic representation $Mp(4,\mathbb{R})$ and to the Landau operator in the complex plane.