Random walks on Baumslag-Solitar groups (Q1618132)

The authors study random walks on Baumslag-Solitar groups $BS(p,q)$ with integers $1<p<q$ starting in the identity element and having i.i.d.\ right-increments whose support generates $BS(p,q)$. A probabilistic model for the long time behavior of the random walk is given by the Poisson-Furstenberg (PF) boundary which also allows to characterize all bounded harmonic functions on $BS(p,q)$. Assuming a finite first moment for the increments, \textit{V. A. Kaimanovich} [in: Probability measures on groups X. Proceedings of the tenth Oberwolfach conference, held November 4--10, 1990 in Oberwolfach, Germany. New York, NY: Plenum Publishing Corporation. 205--238 (1991; Zbl 0823.60006)] already gave a geometric identification of the PF boundary for $BS(1,2)$. In this spirit, the authors geometrically identify the PF boundary for general Baumslag-Solitar groups depending on the vertical drift parameter $\delta$ using Kaimanovich's strip criterion and additionally assuming a finite second moment in the driftless case $\delta=0$. They use a characterization of $BS(p,q)$ by projections to the Bass-Serre tree $T$ and the hyperbolic plane $\mathbb{H}$. The geometric identification of the PF boundary is given in terms of the space of ends of the random walk in $\partial T$ and the real line contained in $\partial\mathbb{H}$.