On the isometry groups of invariant Lorentzian metrics on the Heisenberg group (Q2255088)

The second author proved in [Houston J. Math. 39, No. 1, 147--167 (2013; Zbl 1277.53071)] that any left-invariant metric on a Heisenberg Lie group, for which the center is non-degenerate, is naturally reductive, so these spaces are geodesically complete and non-flat. The present paper gives a partial converse to that result, namely any naturally reductive Lorentzian metric on \(H_3(\mathbb{R})\) admitting an action by isometric isomorphisms of a one-dimensional group, restricts to a metric on the center. Thus one has the following equivalences for any left-invariant Lorentzian metric on \(H_3(\mathbb {R})\): {\parindent=8mm \begin{itemize}\item[(i)] non-flat metric, \item[(ii)] non-degenerate center, \item[(iii)] proper naturally reductive metric. \end{itemize}} These metrics are Lorentzian algebraic Ricci solitons.