Poisson Structures on U/K and Applications

Abstract

Let X be a simply connected compact Riemannian symmetric space, let U be the universal covering group of the identity component of the isometry group of X, and let g denote the complexification of the Lie algebra of U, g=u^C. Each u-compatible triangular decomposition g= n_- + h + n_+ determines a Poisson Lie group structure pi_U on U. The Evens-Lu construction produces a (U, pi_U)-homogeneous Poisson structure on X. By choosing the basepoint in X appropriately, X is presented as U/K where K is the fixed point set of an involution which stabilizes the triangular decomposition of g. With this presentation, a connection is established between the symplectic foliation of the Evens-Lu Poisson structure and the Birkhoff decomposition of U/K. This is done through reinterpretation of results of Pickrell. Each symplectic leaf admits a natural torus action. It is shown that these actions are Hamiltonian and the momentum maps are computed using triangular factorization. Finally, local formulas for the Evens-Lu Poisson structure are displayed in several examples.