An extension of Minkowski's theorem to simply connected 2-step nilpotent groups (Q616632)

Summary: This note extends the classical theorem of Minkowski on lattice points and convex bodies in \(\mathbb R^n\) to 2-step simply connected nilpotent Lie groups with a \(\mathbb Q\)-structure. This includes all groups of Heisenberg type. More generally (and more naturally), it works for any simply connected nilpotent Lie group with a \(\mathbb Q\)-structure whose Lie algebra admits a grading of length 2. Here a new invariant associated with the grading occurs which we call the degree. It explains why some directions are more equal than others.