No label defined (Q4340918)

Let \(G\) be a Lie group with Lie algebra \(L(G)\) and let \(B\) be a bilinear form on \(L(G)\) of Lorentzian signature \((-,+,\dots,+)\). Then it is well-known that \(B\) induces a unique left-invariant Lorentzian manifold structure on \(G\). In this paper the author investigates the question whether this Lorentzian metric is geodesically complete: every geodesic \(\gamma(t)\) is defined for all \(t\in\mathbb{R}\). Three particular cases of solvable groups are analyzed. 1. The class of almost abelian, non-abelian Lie groups, \[ G_n=\left\{\begin{pmatrix} aI_n & b\\ 0 & 1\end{pmatrix}\mid a>0,\;b\in\mathbb{R}^n\right\}, \] where \(I_n\) denotes the identity matrix. In this case the left-invariant Lorentzian metric is incomplete for every \(B\). 2. The group \(E(2)\) of Euclidean motions of \(\mathbb{R}^2\). These manifolds are always geodesically complete. 3. The group \(E(1,1)\) of rigid motions of Minkowski \(2\)-space. Here a Lorentzian metric is complete if and only if the projection from \(G=E(1,1)\) onto \(E(1,1)/O(1,1)\cong\mathbb{R}^2\) is a Lorentzian submersion. Roughly speaking, this means that the restriction of \(B\) to the bracket algebra \([L(G),L(G)]\) is compatible with the Lorentzian form defining the structure of Minkowski \(2\)-space. Thus for generic \(B\) the metric is incomplete.