For G = SL(3, R) and G = SO(2, n), we give explicit, practical conditions that determine whether or not a closed, connected subgroup H of G has the property that there exists a compact subset C of G with CHC = G. To do this, we fix a Cartan decomposition G = KA + K of G, and then carry out an approximate calculation of (KHK) ∩ A + for each closed, connected subgroup H of G.

We give explicit, practical conditions that determine whether or not a closed, connected subgroup H of G = SU(2, n) has the property that there exists a compact subset C of G with CHC = G. To do this, we fix a Cartan decomposition G = KA + K of G, and then carry out an approximate calculation of (KHK) ∩ A + for each closed, connected subgroup H of G. This generalizes the work of H. Oh and D. Wi...