I've asked the following question on math.stackexchange but there has been no response so I'll ask it again here: A positive definite function $\varphi: G \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$ on a group $G$ is a function that arises as a coefficient of a unitary representation of $G$. For a definition and discussion of positive definite function see [here][1]. I've often wished I had a collection of diverse examples of positive definite functions on groups, for the purpose of testing various conjectures. I hope the diverse experience of the participants of this forum can help me collect a list of such examples. To clarify what I'd like to see: > What is an example of a positive > definite function on a group $G$ that > is not easily seen to be a coefficient > of a unitary representation of $G$? > What are some positive definite > functions that arise in contexts > sufficiently removed from studying the > coefficients of unitary > representations? Also, the weirder the group $G$ the better. I'd like a collection of quirky beasts... [1]: http://eom.springer.de/P/p073890.htm