Relative Trace Formulas

Book excerpt: A series of three symposia took place on the topic of trace formulas, each with an accompanying proceedings volume. The present volume is the third and final in this series and focuses on relative trace formulas in relation to special values of L-functions, integral representations, arithmetic cycles, theta correspondence and branching laws. The first volume focused on Arthur's trace formula, and the second volume focused on methods from algebraic geometry and representation theory. The three proceedings volumes have provided a snapshot of some of the current research, in the hope of stimulating further research on these topics. The collegial format of the symposia allowed a homogeneous set of experts to isolate key difficulties going forward and to collectively assess the feasibility of diverse approaches.