Harmonic analysis on non-semisimple symmetric spaces

It is proven that theL ² spectrum for certain non-semisimple, non-nilpotent symmetric spaces is multiplicity-free. The spectrum and spectral measure are computed precisely for symmetric spaces corresponding to non-compact motion groups. Somewhat less complete results on theL ² spectrum — in both the Mackey Machine and Orbit Method modes — are given for general semidirect product symmetric spaces. The author was supported by the NSF through DMS84-00900-A01 and by a Senior Fulbright Fellowship.