The horofunction boundary of the Heisenberg group (Q731185): Difference between revisions

Let \({\mathbb H}^n\) denote the \((2n+1)\)-dimensional Heisenberg group. In [Adv. in Math. 56, 28--38 (1985; Zbl 0589.53053)], \textit{A. Korányi} introduced a class of metrics on Heisenberg-type groups which, in particular, give a metric \(d\) on \({\mathbb H}^n\). Following \textit{M. Gromov} [Ann. Math. Stud. 97, 183--213 (1981; Zbl 0467.53035)], one can define the horofunction boundary \(\partial_h {\mathbb H}^n\) for \(({\mathbb H}^n, d)\). The main result of the paper is the following theorem. Theorem. The horofunction boundary \(\partial_h {\mathbb H}^n\) is homeomorphic to the \(2n\)-disk, with the Busemann points corresponding to the \((2n-1)\)-sphere boundary of this disk. The horofunction compactification \({\mathbb H}^n \cup \partial_h {\mathbb H}^n\) is homeomorphic to the \((2n+1)\)-sphere. The authors also give an explicit presentation of the horofunctions on \({\mathbb H}^n\) which can be used to characterize the isometries of \({\mathbb H}^n\) with the Korányi metric.