Pseudodifferential operators and Markov processes on certain totally disconnected groups

Abstract

This article describes a class of invariant Markov processes on certain totally disconnected groups. An invariant pseudodifferential operator on these groups, similar to the Vladimirov operator on the p-adic line, allows us to state an L2-abstract Cauchy problem for a homogeneous heat-type pseudodifferential equation. The fundamental solutions of these parabolic-type pseudodifferential equations give transition functions of time and space homogeneous Markov processes on these groups. Particularly interesting examples are polyadic rings, such as the ring of m-adic numbers, and the ring of finite adèles of the rational numbers.