Minimal orbits at infinity in homogeneous spaces of nonpositive curvature (Q811666)

Let \(M\) denote a simply connected, homogeneous space of nonpositive curvature and let \(G\) be the connected component of the identity of the isometry group of \(M\). In this paper we study the geometric consequences on \(M\) if \(M(\infty)\), the boundary sphere of \(M\), admits a \(G\)-orbit whose closure is a minimal set for \(G\). A characterization of symmetric spaces of noncompact type in terms of the action of \(G\) in \(M(\infty)\), is obtained. As an application we give some conditions, in terms of the Lie algebra of a simply transitive and solvable subgroup of \(G\) that is in standard position, which are equivalent to the fact that \(M\) is a symmetric space.