On ${\rm Sp}$-distinguished representations of the quasi-split unitary groups

Abstract: We study ${\rm Sp}{2n}(F)$-distinction for representations of the quasi-split unitary group $U{2n}(E/F)$ in $2n$ variables with respect to a quadratic extension $E/F$ of $p$-adic fields. A conjecture of Dijols and Prasad predicts that no tempered representation is distinguished. We verify this for a large family of representations in terms of the Moeglin-Tadic classification of the discrete series. We further study distinction for some families of non-tempered representations. In particular, we exhibit $L$-packets with no distinguished members that transfer under stable base change to ${\rm Sp}{2n}(E)$-distinguished representations of ${\rm GL}{2n}(E)$.