We derive L∞–L1 decay rate estimates for solutions of the shifted wave equation on certain symmetric spaces (M, g). The Cauchy problem for the shifted wave operator on these spaces was studied by Helgason, who obtained a closed form for its solution. Our results extend to this new context the classical estimates for the wave equation in ℝn. Then, following an idea from Klainerman, we introduce a new norm based on Lie derivatives with respect to Killing fields on M and we derive an estimate for the case that n = dim M is odd.
Wave equation on certain noncompact symmetric spaces
