Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 August 2013
Let G and T be topological groups, α : T → Aut(G) a homomorphism defining a continuous action of T on G and G♯ := G ⋊αT the corresponding semidirect product group. In this paper, we address several issues concerning irreducible continuous unitary representations (π♯, ${\mathcal{H}}$) of G♯ whose restriction to G remains irreducible. First, we prove that, for T = ${\mathbb R}$, this is the case for any irreducible positive energy representation of G♯, i.e. for which the one-parameter group Ut := π♯(1,t) has non-negative spectrum. The passage from irreducible unitary representations of G to representations of G♯ requires that certain projective unitary representations are continuous. To facilitate this verification, we derive various effective criteria for the continuity of projective unitary representations. Based on results of Borchers for W*-dynamical systems, we also derive a characterization of the continuous positive definite functions on G that extend to G♯.