Connected subgroups of \(\mathrm{SO}(2,n)\) acting irreducibly on \(\mathbb R^{2,n}\) (Q532604)

The main result of the paper is the following theorem. Let \(G\subset\text{SO}(2, n)\) be a connected Lie group that acts irreducibly on \(\mathbb{R}^{2,n}\). Then \(G\) is conjugated to: (1) \(\text{SO}_0(2, n)\), for \(n\geq 1\); (2) \(U(1, p)\), \(\text{SU}(1, p)\), \(S^1\cdot\text{SO}_0(1, p)\) if \(n= 2p\), \(p> 1\); (3) \(\text{SO}_0(1, 2)\subset\text{SO}(2, 3)\), for \(n= 3\). The proof of the above theorem is based on a theorem of Karpelevich and Mostow: Let \(M=\text{Iso}(M)/K\) be a Riemannian symmetric space of non-compact type. Then any connected and semisimple subgroup \(G\) of the full isometry group \(\text{Iso}(M)\) has a totally geodesic orbit \(G\cdot p\subset M\). [See \textit{F. I. Karpelevich}, Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR, n. Ser. 93, 401--404 (1953; Zbl 0052.38901); \textit{G. D. Mostow}, Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 14, 31--54 (1955; Zbl 0064.25901).] There are also remarks which compare the list of groups from the main theorem with the list of \textit{M. Berger} [Bull. Soc. Math. Fr. 83, 279--330 (1955; Zbl 0068.36002)].