Mathematical Research Letters

Volume 10 (2003)

Number 1

Diameters of Homogeneous Spaces

Pages: 11 – 20

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4310/MRL.2003.v10.n1.a2

Authors

Michael H. Freedman (Microsoft Research)

Alexei Kitaev (Caltech)

Jacob Lurie (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Let $G$ be a compact connected Lie group with trivial center. Using the action of $G$ on its Lie algebra, we define an operator norm $| |_{G}$ which induces a bi-invariant metric $d_G(x,y)=|\Ad(yx^{-1})|_{G}$ on $G$. We prove the existence of a constant $\beta \approx .12$ (independent of $G$) such that for any closed subgroup $H \subsetneq G$, the diameter of the quotient $G/H$ (in the induced metric) is $\geq \beta$.

Published 1 January 2003