Convexity properties of gradient maps associated to real reductive representations

Abstract: Let G be a connected real reductive Lie group acting linearly on a finite dimensional vector space V over R. This action admits a Kempf-Ness function and so we have an associated gradient map. If G is Abelian we explicitly compute the image of G orbits under the gradient map, generalizing a result proved by Kac and Peterson. A similar result is proved for the gradient map associated to the natural $G$ action on P(V). We also investigate the convex hull of the image of the gradient map restricted on the closure of G orbits. Finally, we give a new proof of the Hilbert-Mumford criterion for real reductive Lie groups avoiding any algebraic result