L-packets and formal degrees for SL_2(K) with K a local function field of characteristic 2

Abstract

Let G = SL_2(K) with K a local function field of characteristic 2. We review Artin-Schreier theory for the field K, and show that this leads to a parametrization of L-packets in the smooth dual of G. We relate this to a recent geometric conjecture. The L-packets in the principal series are parametrized by quadratic extensions, and the supercuspidal L-packets by biquadratic extensions. We compute the formal degrees of the elements in the supercuspidal packets.

21 pages