A real convexity theorem for quasi-hamiltonian actions

Abstract

The main result of this paper is a quasi-hamiltonian analogue of a special case of the O'Shea-Sjamaar convexity theorem for usual momentum maps. We denote by U a simply connected compact connected Lie group and we fix an involutive automorphism of maximal rank on this Lie group (such an automorphism always exists). We then denote by M a quasi-hamiltonian U-space and we prove that the image under the momentum map of the fixed-point set of a form-reversing compatible involution of M is a convex polytope, which is in fact equal to the full momentum polytope. This theorem was announced in arXiv:math/0609517v1. As an application, we obtain an example of lagrangian subspace in representation spaces of surface groups.