Let F be a totally real field, and let
$E/F$
be a CM quadratic extension. We construct a p-adic L-function attached to Hida families for the group
$\mathrm {GL}_{2/F}\times \mathrm {Res}_{E/F}\mathrm {GL}_{1}$
. It is characterized by an exact interpolation property for critical Rankin–Selberg L-values, at classical points corresponding to representations
$\pi \boxtimes \chi $
with the weights of
$\chi $
smaller than the weights of
$\pi $
.
Our p-adic L-function agrees with previous results of Hida when
$E/F$
splits above p or
$F=\mathbf {Q}$
, and it is new otherwise. Exploring a method that should bear further fruits, we build it as a ratio of families of global and local Waldspurger zeta integrals, the latter constructed using the local Langlands correspondence in families.
In an appendix of possibly independent recreational interest, we give a reality-TV-inspired proof of an identity concerning double factorials.