Special unipotent representations of real classical groups: construction and unitarity

Abstract

Let $G$ be a real classical group (including the real metaplectic group). We consider a nilpotent adjoint orbit $\check{\mathcal O}$ of $\check G$, the Langlands dual of $G$ (or the metaplectic Langlands dual of $G$ when $G$ is a real metaplectic group). We classify all special unipotent representations of $G$ attached to $\check{\mathcal O}$, in the sense of Arthur and Adams-Barbasch-Vogan. When $\check{\mathcal O}$ has good parity in the sense of Moeglin, we construct all such representations of $G$ via the method of theta lifting. As a consequence of the construction and the classification, we conclude that all special unipotent representations of $G$ are unitarizable, as predicted by the Arthur-ABV conjecture. We also determine the precise structure of the associated cycles of special unipotent representations of $G$. The paper is the second in a series of two papers on the classification of special unipotent representations of real classical groups.