On the structure of groups with polynomial growth (Q1096025)

The following result is an interesting characterization of locally compact groups of polynomial growth which extends results of \textit{Y. Guivarc'h} [Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 101, 333-379 (1974; Zbl 0294.43003)] and \textit{J. W. Jenkins} [J. Funct. Anal. 12, 113-127 (1973; Zbl 0247.43001)] on connected Lie groups. A compactly generated, locally compact group G has polynomial growth if and only if there exists a normal series \(C\triangleleft R\triangleleft N\triangleleft G\) such that C and G/N are compact, R/C is a connected Lie group with Lie algebra of type \(R_ G\), and N/R is a discrete nilpotent group. For Part II, see For Part II, see [the author, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 63, No. 3, 640--654 (2001; Zbl 1010.22008)].