Satake-Furstenberg compactifications and gradient map

Let $G$ be a real semisimple Lie group with finite center and let $\lieg=\liek \oplus \liep$ be a Cartan decomposition of its Lie algebra. Let $K$ be a maximal compact subgroup of $G$ with Lie algebra $\liek$ and let $\tau$ be an irreducible representation of $G$ on a complex vector space $V$. Let $h$ be a Hermitian scalar product on $V$ such that $\tau(G)$ is compatible with respect to $\mathrm{SU}(V,h)^\C$. We denote by $\mup:\mathbb P(V) \lra \liep$ the $G$-gradient map and by $\mathcal O$ the unique closed orbit of $G$ in $\mathbb P(V)$, which is a $K$-orbit \cite{gjt,heinzner-schwarz-stoetzel}, contained in the unique closed orbit of the Zariski closure of $\tau(G)$ in $\mathrm{SU}(V,h)^\C$. We prove that up to equivalence the set of irreducible representations of parabolic subgroups of $G$ induced by $\tau$ are completely determined by the facial structure of the polar orbitope $\mathcal E=\mathrm{conv}(\mup(\mathcal O))$. Moreover, any parabolic subgroup of $G$ admits a unique closed orbit in $\mathcal O$ which is well-adapted to $\mup$. These results are new also in the complex reductive case. The connection between $\mathcal E$ and $\tau$ provides a geometrical description of the Satake compactifications without root data. In this context the properties of the Bourguignon-Li-Yau map are also investigated. Given a measure $\gamma$ on $\mathcal O$, we construct a map $\Psi_\gamma$ from the Satake compactification of $G/K$ associated to $\tau$ and $\mathcal E$. If $\gamma$ is a $K$-invariant measure then $\Psi_\gamma$ is an homeomorphism of the Satake compactification and $\mathcal E$. Finally, we prove that for a large class of measures the map $\Psi_\gamma$ is surjective.