Spherical functions and invariant differential operators on complex Grassmann manifolds

Abstract

Proofs are given of two theorems of Berezin and Karpelevič, which as far as we know never have been proved correctly. By using eigenfunctions of the Laplace-Beltrami operator it is shown that the spherical functions on a complex Grassmann manifold are given by a determinant of certain hypergeometric functions. By application of this result, it is proved that a certain system of operators, fow which explicit expressions are given, generates the algebra of radial parts of invariant differential operators.