CR manifolds with noncompact connected automorphism groups (Q1923008)

Let \(M\) be a compact, connected, strictly pseudoconvex CR manifold of dimension \(2n+1\geq 3\). Then the identity component \({\mathcal A}_0(M)\) of the group \({\mathcal A} (M)\) of CR automorphisms of \(M\) is compact unless \(M\) is globally CR equivalent to the \((2n+1)\)-sphere with its standard CR structure. In dimension greater than 3, it has been pointed out by Dan Burns (it has never been published) that this result follows from known results on biholomorphism groups of complex manifolds with boundary and the fact that any such CR manifold \(M\) can be realized as the boundary of an analytic variety. When \(M\) is 3-dimensional, Burn's proof breaks down because abstract CR 3-manifolds are generically not realizable as boundaries. This paper provides an intrinsic proof of compactness that works in any dimension. The bulk of the paper is devoted to proving the fixed-point result. Let \(G_1\subset {\mathcal A}_0(M)\) be a closed, noncompact one-parameter subgroup. Then \(G_1\) has a fixed point.