Metric geometry in homogeneous spaces of the unitary group of a \(C^*\)-algebra. I: Minimal curves (Q1826889)

A generalized flag consists of the following data: 1) a \(C^\infty\) Banach manifold \({\mathcal P}\), 2) a unital \(C^*\)-algebra \({\mathcal A}\) together with a smooth transitive action of the unitary group \({\mathcal U}\) of \({\mathcal A}\) on \({\mathcal P}\), and 3) the (\({\mathcal U}\)-invariant) Finsler structure \[ \| X\|_\rho= \inf\{| Z+ b|: b\in{\mathcal B}^{\text{ant}}_\rho\} \] on \({\mathcal P}\), where \((T\Pi_\rho)_1(Z)= X\) (also \((T\Pi_\rho)_1: (T{\mathcal U})_1: {\mathcal A}^{\text{ant}}\to(T{\mathcal P})_\rho\) is the derivative of the map \(\Pi_\rho:{\mathcal U}\to{\mathcal P}\), \(\Pi_\rho(g)= L_g(\rho)\), subject to the following conditions: a) the isotropy group \({\mathcal I}_\rho= \{g\in{\mathcal U}: L_g\rho= \rho\}\) is the unitary group \({\mathcal U}_\rho\) of a \(C^*\)-subalgebra \({\mathcal B}_\rho\subseteq{\mathcal A}\), and b) \((T\Pi_\rho)_1\) is surjective. Among the results: let \({\mathcal P}\) be a generalized flag. Let \(\rho\in{\mathcal P}\) and \(X\in(T{\mathcal P})_\rho\). If there is \(Z\in{\mathcal A}^{\text{ant}}\) such that \(| Z|= \| X\|_\rho\) then \(\gamma(t)= L_{e^{tZ}}\rho\) has minimal length within the class of curves in \({\mathcal P}\) joining \(\gamma(0)\) to \(\gamma(t)\), \(| t|\leq\pi/(2| Z|)\).