Distinguished representations for quadratic extensions

Abstract

Let K be a quadratic extension of a field k which is either local field or a finite field. Let G be an algebraic group over k. The aim of the present paper is to understand when a representation of G(K) has a G(k) invariant linear form. We are able to accomplish this in the case when G is the group of invertible elements of a division algebra over k of odd index if k is a local field, and for general connected groups over finite fields.