Reduction theory using semistability. II (Q1821202)

This paper extends the results of Part I [ibid. 59, 600-634 (1984; Zbl 0564.20027)] to the case of an arithmetic subgroup of any semisimple algebraic group G. The methods and results of the previous paper are assumed in the current one. A numerical notion of semistability of lattices endowed with metrics is used to construct distance functions to the cusps in the symmetric space X belonging to G, leading to a realization of the Borel-Serre completion of X as a proper subset of X. Of independent interest: (1) the description of X as a certain space of inner products H on the Lie algebra g of G; (2) a criterion for when an element of the canonical filtration of the \({\mathbb{Z}}\)-points of g (with respect to a given H) is a parabolic subalgebra of g, solely in terms of the slopes of the canonical filtration.