Arthur packets for metaplectic groups

Abstract

For metaplectic groups over a local field of characteristic zero, we define the Arthur packet attached to any Arthur parameter $\psi$ as a multi-set of unitary genuine irreducible representations, characterized by endoscopic character relations. Over number fields, we obtain a multiplicity formula for the genuine discrete $L^2$-automorphic spectrum in terms of global Arthur parameters and $\epsilon$-factors, by leveraging the trace formula for metaplectic groups. This confirms a conjecture of Gan, and extends earlier results of Gan-Ichino on the Shimura-Waldspurger correspondences, whereas their works play a critical role in our proof. Furthermore, all these are shown to be compatible with existing results in rank one (Waldspurger) and two (Gan-Ichino).