Nonexistence of invariant semigroups in affine symmetric spaces (Q5953588)

Let \(G\) be a simple Lie group and consider an affine symmetric space \((G,L,\tau)\) with \(\tau\) an involutive automorphism and \(L\) an open subgroup of the \(\tau\)-fixed point group \(G^{\tau}\). It was conjectured by \textit{J. Hilgert} and \textit{K. H. Neeb} [Monatsh. Math. 119, No. 3, 187-214 (1995; Zbl 0824.22007)] that \((G,L,\tau)\) is of Hermitian type whenever there exists a proper semigroup \(S\subset G\) with nonempty interior and such that \(L\subset S\). In the paper under review the author gives a positive answer to the Hilgert-Neeb conjecture. The techniques developed (based on properties of the action of semigroups on flag manifolds and on the relationship between two subgroups of the Weil group \(\mathcal{W}\), one of them associated to the pair \((G,\tau)\) and the other one the subgroup built from \(S\)) also permit to obtain an alternative proof of the maximality of the compression semigroup of an open orbit [\textit{J. Hilbert} and \textit{K. H. Neeb}, Semigroup Forum 50, No. 2, 205-222 (1995; Zbl 0824.22006)].