We study the structures of Fourier coefficients of automorphic forms on symplectic groups based on their local and global structures related to Arthur parameters. This is a first step towards the general conjecture on the relation between the structure of Fourier coefficients and Arthur parameters for automorphic forms occurring in the discrete spectrum, given by the first named author.

Perspectives in Representation Theory: A Conference in Honor of Igor Frenkel’s 60th Birthday on Perspectives in Representation Theory, Yale University, New Haven, 12-17 May 2012

By applying the residue method for period integrals and Langlands-Shahidi’s theory for residues of Eisenstein series, we study the period integrals for six spherical varieties. For each spherical variety, we prove a relation between the period integrals and certain automorphic L-functions. In some cases, we also study the local multiplicity of the spherical varieties.

We find sufficient conditions for the construction of vertex algebraic intertwining operators, among generalized Verma modules for an affine Lie algebra g^, from g-module homomorphisms. When g=sl_2, these results extend previous joint work with J. Yang, but the method used here is different. Here, we construct intertwining operators by solving Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov equations for three-point correlation functions associated to g^, and we identify obstructions to the construction arising from the possible non-existence of series solutions having a prescribed form.

We give a finite presentation for the braid twist group of a decorated surface. If the decorated surface arises from a triangulated marked surface without punctures, we obtain a finite presentation for the spherical twist group of the associated 3-Calabi–Yau triangulated category. The motivation/application is that the result will be used to show that the (principal component of) space of stability conditions on the 3-Calabi–Yau category is simply connected in the sequel [King and Qiu, Invent. Math., to appear].