Transfer of R-groups between p-adic inner forms of SL_n

Abstract

We study the Knapp-Stein $R$--groups for inner forms of the split group $SL_n(F),$ with $F$ a $p$--adic field of characteristic zero. Thus, we consider the groups $SL_m(D),$ with $D$ a central division algebra over $F$ of dimension $d^2,$ and $m=n/d.$ We use the generalized Jacquet-Langlands correspondence and results of the first named author to describe the zeros of Plancherel measures. Combined with a study of the behavior of the stabilizer of representations by elements of the Weyl group we are able to determine the Knapp-Stein $R$--groups in terms of those for $SL_n(F).$ We show the $R$--group for the inner form embeds as a subgroup of the $R$--group for the split form, and we characterize the quotient. We are further able to show the Knapp-Stein $R$--group is isomorphic to the Arthur, or Endoscopic $R$--group as predicted by Arthur. Finally, we give some results on multiplicities and actions of Weyl groups on $L$--packets.