$L^p$ Fourier transformation on non-unimodular locally compact groups

Abstract

Let $G$ be a locally compact group with modular function $\Delta$ and left regular representation $\lambda$. We define the $L^p$ Fourier transform of a function $f \in L^p(G)$, $1 \le p \le 2$, to be essentially the operator $\lambda(f)\Delta^{\frac{1}{q}}$ on $L^2(G)$ (where $\frac{1}{p}+\frac{1}{q}=1$) and show that a generalized Hausdorff-Young theorem holds. To do this, we first treat in detail the spatial $L^p$ spaces $L^p(\psi_0)$, $1 \le p \le \infty$, associated with the von Neumann algebra $M=\lambda(G)^{\prime\prime}$ on $L^2(G)$ and the canonical weight $\psi_0$ on its commutant. In particular, we discuss isometric isomorphisms of $L^2(\psi_0)$ onto $L^2(G)$ and of $L^1(\psi_0)$ onto the Fourier algebra $A(G)$. Also, we give a characterization of positive definite functions belonging to $A(G)$ among all continuous positive definite functions.