The Sub-Riemannian cut locus of $H$-type groups

Abstract

In the present paper we give a proof of the fact that the sub-Riemannian cut locus of a wide class of nilpotent groups of step two, called $H$-type groups, starting from the origin corresponds to the center of the group. We obtain this result by completely describing the sub-Riemannian geodesics in the group, and using these to obtain three disjoint sets of points in the group determined by the number of geodesics joining them to the origin.