Abstract
It is known that many of the Special Functions of mathematical physics appear as matrix elements of Lie group representations. This paper is concerned with a beginning attack on the converse problem, i.e., finding conditions that a given function be a matrix element. The methods used are based on a combination of ideas from system theory, functional analysis, Lie theory, differential algebra, and linear ordinary differential equation theory. A key idea is to attach a symbol as an element of a commutative algebra. In favorable cases, this symbol defines a Riemann surface, and a meromorphic differential form on that surface. The topological and analytical invariants attached to this form play a key role in system theory. The Lie algebras of the groups appear as linear differential operators on this Riemann surface. Finally, it is shown how the Picard-Vessiot-Infeld-Hull theory of factorization of linear differential operators leads to realization of many Special Functions as matrix representations of group representations.
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