Gamma factors root numbers and distinction

Abstract

We study a relation between distinction and special values of local invariants for representations of the general linear group over a quadratic extension of $p$-adic fields. We show that the local Rankin-Selberg root number of any pair of distinguished representation is trivial and as a corollary we obtain an analogue for the global root number of any pair of distinguished cuspidal representations. We further study the extent to which the gamma factor at $1/2$ is trivial for distinguished representations as well as the converse problem.

To appear in Canad. J. Math