Central limit theorem on \(\text{CAT}(0)\) spaces with contracting isometries (Q6834458)

Let \(G\) be a discrete group acting by isometries on a proper CAT(0) space \(X\) and let \(\mu\) be an admissible probability measure on \(G\). The paper studies the random walk \((Z_n)_n\) generated by \(\mu\) under the assumption that the action is non-elementary and that \(G\) contains a rank one element. Its main result shows that, if \(\mu\) has finite second moment, then the centered and normalized random variables \(\big (d(Z_n o,o)-n\lambda \big )/\sqrt{n}\). converge in law to a non-degenerate Gaussian distribution, where \(\lambda\) is the drift of the random walk.\N\NThe approach is inspired by the cocycle method of \textit{Y. Benoist} and \textit{J.-F. Quint} [Ann. Probab. 44, No. 2, 1308--1340 (2016; Zbl 1341.22006)]. A central ingredient is the use of the hyperbolic models introduced by \textit{H. Petyt} et al. [Adv. Math. 450, Article ID 109742, 66 p. (2024; Zbl 1542.20193)] for CAT(0) spaces; the random walk is first analyzed on a suitable hyperbolic model and the resulting information is then transferred back to the original CAT(0) space.\N\NAs a further result, the author proves that the probability that the element \(Z_n\) acts as a contracting isometry tends to \(1\) as \(n\to\infty\). The paper thus extends central limit theorems with optimal moment assumptions from hyperbolic and cubical settings to the general framework of proper CAT(0) spaces with rank one dynamics.