Orthogonal Root Numbers of Tempered Parameters

Abstract

We show that an orthogonal root number of a tempered L-parameter decomposes as the product of two other numbers: the orthogonal root number of the principal parameter and the value on a certain involution of Langlands's central character for the parameter. The formula resolves a conjecture of Gross and Reeder and computes root numbers of Weil-Deligne representations arising in the work of Hiraga, Ichino, and Ikeda on the Plancherel measure.