On the Lie algebra of polarizable Carnot groups (Q2220128)

Let \(G\) be a Carnot group equipped with a left-invariant sub-Riemannian metric, induced by an inner product \(\langle \cdot, \cdot \rangle\) on the first layer of its Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{g}\). The metric induces a family of \(p\)-sub-Laplacians \(\Delta_p\) on \(G\), where \(\Delta_2\) is the usual sub-Laplacian. Following [\textit{Z. M. Balogh} and \textit{J. T. Tyson}, Math. Z. 241, No. 4, 697--730 (2002; Zbl 1015.22005)], let \(u_2\) be the fundamental solution (Green's function) for \(\Delta_2\) in the sense of [\textit{G. B. Folland}, Ark. Mat. 13, 161--207 (1975; Zbl 0312.35026)]; then \(N = u_2^{1/(2-\mathcal{Q})}\) is a homogeneous norm on \(G\), where \(\mathcal{Q}\) is the homogeneous dimension of \(G\). Balogh and Tyson define that \(G\) is \textit{polarizable} if \(N\) solves \(\Delta_\infty N = 0\) away from the identity, and they prove that in this case, \(G\) admits a coordinate system that plays the role of polar coordinates. The present paper uses a series of examples to highlight the fact that the polarizability of a Carnot group \(G\) depends not only on its Lie group structure (and the corresponding Lie algebra structure of \(\mathfrak{g}\)) but also on the choice of left-invariant sub-Riemannian metric (respectively, the choice of inner product \(\langle \cdot, \cdot \rangle\) on the first layer of \(\mathfrak{g}\)). In particular, the author gives an example to show that a group \(G\) which is not polarizable under one given metric may still be polarizable under a different metric. The main example is essentially a so-called anisotropic metric on the \((2n+1)\)-dimensional real Heisenberg group, see for instance [\textit{R. W. Beals} et al., J. Math. Pures Appl. (9) 79, No. 7, 633--689 (2000; Zbl 0959.35035)].