Metrics on 4-dimensional unimodular Lie groups (Q517476)

Left-invariant Riemannian metrics on a Lie group \(G\) correspond to scalar products on the Lie algebra \({\mathfrak{g}}\). If there is an isometry \(A\in{\mathrm{Aut}}({\mathfrak{g}})\) between two scalar products on \({\mathfrak{g}}\), the corresponding metrics on \(G\) are isometric. Hence, the space of metrics can be identified with the moduli space of scalar products on \({\mathfrak{g}}\) up to automorphisms of \({\mathrm{Aut}}({\mathfrak{g}})\). If \({\mathfrak{g}}\) has only real roots, such a classification is the same as the classification up to isometry, however, in general it is finer. In the present paper, the \(4\)-dimensional unimodular Lie groups (and Lie algebras) are of interest. The classification in dimension \(3\) was achieved in a previous paper. The \(4\)-dimensional unimodular situation is classified case by case, for the abelian, nilpotent, solvable and nonsolvable group, respectively. In each case, the space of metrics is described. Also, different notations in the description of \(4\)-dimensional groups from previous papers are unified.