The Bernstein center in natural characteristic

Abstract: Let $G$ be a locally profinite group and let $k$ be a field of positive characteristic $p$. Let $Z(G)$ denote the center of $G$ and let $\mathfrak{Z}(G)$ denote the Bernstein center of $G$, that is, the $k$-algebra of natural endomorphisms of the identity functor on the category of smooth $k$-linear representations of $G$. We show that if $G$ contains an open pro-$p$ subgroup but no proper open centralisers, then there is a natural isomorphism of $k$-algebras $\mathfrak{Z}(Z(G)) \xrightarrow{\cong} \mathfrak{Z}(G)$. We also describe $\mathfrak{Z}(Z(G))$ explicitly as a particular completion of the abstract group ring $k[Z(G)]$. Both conditions on $G$ are satisfied whenever $G$ is the group of points of any connected smooth algebraic group defined over a local field of residue characteristic $p$. In particular, when the algebraic group is semisimple, we show that $\mathfrak{Z}(G) = k[Z(G)]$.