Spectral aspect subconvex bounds for ${\rm U}_{n+1} \times {\rm U}_{n}$

Abstract

Let $(\pi,\sigma)$ traverse a sequence of pairs of cuspidal automorphic representations of a unitary Gan--Gross--Prasad pair $({\rm U}_{n+1},{\rm U}_n)$ over a number field, with ${\rm U}_n$ anisotropic. We assume that at some distinguished archimedean place, the pair stays away from the conductor dropping locus, while at every other place, the pair has bounded ramification and satisfies certain local conditions (in particular, temperedness). We prove that the subconvex bound \[ L(\pi \times \sigma,1/2) \ll C(\pi \times \sigma)^{1/4 - \delta} \] holds for any fixed \[ \delta < \frac{1}{8 n^5 + 28 n^4 + 42 n^3 + 36 n^2 + 14 n}. \] Among other ingredients, the proof employs a refinement of the microlocal calculus for Lie group representations developed with A. Venkatesh and an observation of S. Marshall concerning the geometric side of the relative trace formula.