Metaplectic operators with quasi‐diagonal kernels

Abstract Metaplectic operators form a relevant class of operators appearing in different applications, in this work we study their Schwartz kernels. Namely, diagonality of a kernel is defined by imposing rapid off‐diagonal decay conditions, and quasi‐diagonality by imposing the same conditions on the smoothing of the kernel through convolution with the Gaussian. Kernels of metaplectic operators are not diagonal. Nevertheless, as we shall prove, they are quasi‐diagonal under suitable conditions. Motivation for our study comes from problems in time–frequency analysis, that we discuss in the last section.