The orbit method in number theory through the sup-norm problem for $\operatorname{GL}(2)$

The orbit method in its quantitative form due to Nelson and Venkatesh has played a central role in recent advances in the analytic theory of higher rank $L$-functions. The goal of this note is to explain how the method can be applied to the sup-norm problem for automorphic forms on $\operatorname{PGL}(2)$. Doing so, we prove a new hybrid bound for newforms $φ$ of large prime-power level $N = p^{4n}$ and large eigenvalue $λ$. It states that $\| φ\|_\infty \ll_p (λN)^{5/24 + \varepsilon}$, recovering the result of Iwaniec and Sarnak spectrally and improving the local bound in the depth aspect for the first time in this non-compact setting. We also provide an exposition of the microlocal tools used, illustrating and motivating the theory through the classical case of $\operatorname{PGL}(2)$, following notes and lectures of Nelson and Venkatesh.