On harmonic and asymptotically harmonic homogeneous spaces

We classify noncompact homogeneous spaces which are Einstein and asymptotically harmonic. This completes the classification of Riemannian harmonic spaces in the homogeneous case: Any simply connected homogeneous harmonic space is flat, or rank-one symmetric, or a nonsymmetric Damek–Ricci space. Independently, Y. Nikolayevsky has obtained the latter classification under the additional assumption of nonpositive sectional curvatures N2]. Supported in part by DFG priority program “Global Differential Geometry” (SPP 1154). Received: September 2004; Revision: June 2005; Accepted: September 2005