Reconstructing the geometric structure of a Riemannian symmetric space from its Satake diagram (Q1014910): Difference between revisions

Let \(M\) be a Riemannian symmetric space of noncompact type. The local geometry of \(M\) is described completely by its Riemannian metric and its Riemannian curvature tensor. The author provides algorithms for the reconstruction of these fundamental geometric tensors from the Satake diagram of \(M\). The algorithms are adjusted to the use with computer algebra systems. As an example, the author has implemented the algorithms as a Maple package. Moreover, as an application, he classifies the totally geodesic submanifolds of the Riemannian symmetric space \(\text{SU}(3)/\text{SO}(3)\) by classifying all Lie triple systems therein. This result corrects the classification of maximal totally geodesic submanifolds by \textit{B.-Y. Chen} and \textit{T. Nagano} [Duke Math. J. 45, 405--425 (1978; Zbl 0384.53024)]. The author takes advantage of the Lie algebraic description of the Riemannian metric and the curvature tensor on \(M\). These tensors are determined by the inner product given by the Riemannian metric on a single tangent space \(T_pM\), and the curvature tensor at \(p\). Suppose that \(M=G/K\), where \(G\) is the transvection group of \(M\) and \(K\) the isotropy group of a point in \(M\). The geodesic symmetry at \(o := eK\) gives rise to an involution \(\sigma\) on the Lie algebra \(\mathfrak g\) of \(G\). The map \(\sigma\) induces the decomposition \(\mathfrak g = \mathfrak k \oplus \mathfrak m\), where \(\mathfrak k\) is the \(1\)-eigenspace of \(\sigma\) and \(\mathfrak m\) is its \(-1\)-eigenspace, which is canonically isomorphic to \(T_oM\). Then the curvature tensor \(R\) of \(M\) at \(o\) is given by the formula \(R(u,v)w = -[[u,v],w]\) for \(u,v,w \in \mathfrak m\). Now the author proceeds as follows. In a first step he uses the Dynkin diagram of \(\mathfrak g\), which can be read from the Satake diagram of \(M\), to reconstruct algorithmically the root system \(\Delta\) of \(\mathfrak g\). In the second step he gives an algorithm to construct a Chevalley basis for the complexification \(\mathfrak g^{\mathbb C}\) of \(\mathfrak g\) using \(\Delta\). Then the Lie bracket of \(\mathfrak g^{\mathbb C}\) is determined by the Chevalley constants, which are calculated by the algorithm. In the third step he calculates the action of the complexification of \(\sigma\) on this Chevalley basis of \(\mathfrak g^{\mathbb C}\), and hence the action of \(\sigma\) on \(\mathfrak g\). The algorithm for this calculation uses Cartan's classification of Riemannian symmetric spaces. The knowledge of \(\sigma\) allows to reproduce the decomposition \(\mathfrak g = \mathfrak k \oplus \mathfrak m\). Since the chosen Chevalley basis was particularly suited to the position of \(\mathfrak g\) within \(\mathfrak g^{\mathbb C}\), he can now determine the Lie bracket on \(\mathfrak g\), the inner product on \(\mathfrak m\), and the curvature tensor \(R\) at \(o\).