On the spectrum of a large subgroup of a semisimple group (Q928466)

Let \(G\) be a semisimple algebraic group defined over a local field \(k\) of characteristic zero. The author calls a subsemigroup \(\Gamma\) of \(G\) large if \(\Gamma\) is Zariski dense over the minimal local field \(k_a\) contained in \(k\) and \(\Gamma\) contains an element which acts proximally on the maximal flag space of \(G\). The existence of such an element follows from Zariski density if \(k_a=\mathbb R\), but not for \(k_a=\mathbb Q_p\) even if \(\Gamma\) is unbounded. The author uses a map which generalizes the map which sends a proximal element to its polar part, also called the Cartan projection. Let \(\text{Spec}\,\Gamma\) be its image. The main theorem is that the group generated by \(\text{Spec}\,\Gamma\) is large in a certain sense. In particular, for \(k_a=\mathbb R\) the closed convex cone generated by the logarithm of \(\text{Spec}\,\Gamma\) has non-empty interior. This result has also been obtained by \textit{Y. Benoist} [Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 38, No.~5, 793--832 (2005; Zbl 1085.22006)]. The main theorem has a number of applications concerning a central limit theorem for random walks on \(\Gamma\), the \(\Gamma\)-orbit structure and stationary measures on a certain homogeneous \(G\)-space. The present paper generalizes to arbitrary local fields of characteristic zero the results of [\textit{Y. Guivarc'h} and \textit{A. Raugi}, Ann. Sci. Éc. Norm. Supér. (4) 40, No.~2, 209--249 (2007; Zbl 1166.60301)], obtained for \(k_a=\mathbb R\). Properties of the limit set of \(\Gamma\) are explained carefully in the paper. They play an important role in the proofs.