Non-Generic Unramified Representations in Metaplectic Covering Groups

Let $G^{(r)}$ denote the metaplectic covering group of the linear algebraic group $G$. In this paper we study conditions on unramified representations of the group $G^{(r)}$ not to have a nonzero Whittaker function. We state a general Conjecture about the possible unramified characters $\chi$ such that the unramified sub-representation of $Ind_{B^{(r)}}^{G^{(r)}}\chi\delta_B^{1/2}$ will have no nonzero Whittaker function. We prove this Conjecture for the groups $GL_n^{(r)}$ with $r\ge n-1$, and for the exceptional groups $G_2^{(r)}$ when $r\ne 2$.