Two-step Homogeneous Geodesics in Homogeneous Spaces

Abstract

We study geodesics of the form $\gamma(t) = \pi(\exp(tX) \exp(tY))$, $X, Y \in \mathfrak{g} = \operatorname{Lie}(G)$, in homogeneous spaces $G/K$, where $\pi \colon G \to G/K$ is the natural projection. These curves naturally generalise homogeneous geodesics, that is orbits of one-parameter subgroups of $G$ (i.e., $\gamma(t) = \pi(\exp(tX))$, $X \in \mathfrak{g}$). We obtain sufficient conditions on a homogeneous space implying the existence of such geodesics for $X, Y \in \mathfrak{m} = T_o(G/K)$. We use these conditions to obtain examples of Riemannian homogeneous spaces $G/K$ so that all geodesics of $G/K$ are of the above form. These include total spaces of homogeneous Riemannian submersions endowed with one parameter families of fiber bundle metrics, Lie groups endowed with special one parameter families of left-invariant metrics, generalised Wallach spaces, generalized flag manifolds, and $k$-symmetric spaces with $k$-even, equipped with certain one-parameter families of invariant metrics.