Asymptotics of Riemannian Lie groups with nilpotency step 2

Abstract: We derive estimates comparing asymptotic Riemannian or sub-Riemannian metrics in step-2 nilpotent Lie groups. Given a sub-Riemannian metric, we construct a Carnot metric whose square remains at a bounded distance from the square of the original metric. As a consequence, we obtain a refined estimate of the error term in the asymptotic expansion of the volume of (sub-)Riemannian metric balls. To achieve this, we develop a novel technique to perturb sub-Riemannian geodesics, allowing us to modify their endpoints in a prescribed vertical direction.