The classification of simply-connected contact sub-Riemannian symmetric spaces

Sub-Riemannian geometry is the geometry of non-integrable k-plane distribut ions D on n-manifolds M, 1 < k < n, where D is equipped with a positive def inite metric g. We classify the simply-connected contact sub-Riemannian sym metric spaces (these belong to a class of sub-Riemannian manifolds (M, D, g ) with special symmetry properties).